The former Central Region Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has raised concerns about a recent press conference conducted by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu, commonly known as Joe Wise.
Speaking on Peace FM, Mr, Jacobs criticized the event, labeling it as politically tactless and potentially disruptive to the party’s unity and focus.
He expressed dismay at the trend within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of publicly announcing internal matters.
He suggested that such announcements should be handled discreetly without unnecessary public disclosure.
“The press conference by JoeWise was politically tactless and potentially disruptive of the party’s cohesion and focus.
“I would like to offer a suggestion to the leadership of the NPP: internal matters should be handled discreetly without unnecessary public announcements.
“Take, for instance, the recent announcement that Bawumia would introduce his campaign team. Unfortunately, the NDC’s press conference, ‘The Moment of Truth,’ seemed strategically aimed at overshadowing Bawumia’s presentation,”he added.
On Tuesday, February 20 Joe Wise organised a press conference contrary to media reports, which suggested a change in the leadership of NPP lawmakers in Parliament ahead of the December 7 general elections.
Mr Osei-Owusu clarified that no such changes had been implemented.
During his press address in Parliament, JoeWise clarified that he was unaware of any external attempts to reshuffle the leadership of the current Majority side of Parliament.
Joe Wise emphasized that the new Standing Orders of Parliament give the caucus exclusive power to change the leadership of both the Majority and the Minority, with no external interference permitted.
He affirmed that no decision had been made to alter the current leadership of the Majority.
“We are here to inform you that the publications that are going around are not true, it is false.
“The majority caucus has not made any changes in its leadership, the majority caucus has not contemplated making any changes to its leadership and we will tell the world and Ghana to ignore any such publication.
“We want to assure you that we have confidence in the leadership and the status quo shall remain, we are aware that upon the nomination of one of the Deputy Whips as a minister, a replacement will be made, that replacement will be made by the caucus when weaved the opportunity and the time to consider the appropriate replacement, this is all the information we have to share,” he said.
He reiterated, “The leadership of the Majority has not changed, we have not contemplated changing and we have no intention to effect any change in the leadership of the majority caucus. The Parliament of Ghana has adopted standing orders that place the selection and change or otherwise of leadership in the hands of the caucus and not anybody inside parliament.”