Builsa North MP James Agalga is yet to be formally recognised as Ghana’s new Majority Leader despite President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement of his appointment, according to Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin.
Speaker Bagbin said the change in leadership of a parliamentary caucus must follow procedures prescribed by Parliament’s Standing Orders before the new leader can officially assume the position in the House.
Addressing Parliament when it reconvened on Monday, August 24, the Speaker explained that the President’s announcement alone could not formally communicate a change in the leadership of the Majority Caucus to Parliament.
He said the appropriate communication must come from the political party through its General Secretary, after which the Majority Caucus must formally designate its leader.
According to Speaker Bagbin, the Standing Orders define the Majority Leader as a Member of Parliament designated by the Majority Caucus to serve as its leader in the House.
He therefore described the President’s communication announcing Mr Agalga as Majority Leader as procedurally incorrect.
“The President has no authority to communicate the change of the leadership of the House to the Speaker. And so it was actually done in error,” he said.
Ayariga remains Majority Leader for now
Speaker Bagbin explained that until the required communication is formally received and the Majority Caucus completes its internal process, Mahama Ayariga remains the recognised Majority Leader in Parliament.
He said this explains why Mr Ayariga continues to occupy the Majority Leader’s seat in the Chamber despite President Mahama announcing Mr Agalga as his replacement.
“So you still see that the Majority Leader is still in his seat, because he’s still the Majority Leader, until otherwise communicated by the party and then decided by the caucus and the information passed on,” Speaker Bagbin stated.
The development follows President Mahama’s decision to nominate Mr Ayariga for a new government role, paving the way for Mr Agalga to take over the leadership of the Majority Caucus.
However, Speaker Bagbin stressed that political decisions concerning caucus leadership must be distinguished from the formal parliamentary procedure for recognising such changes.
Standing Orders determine recognition
The Speaker said the issue of who leads the Majority and Minority Caucuses has previously generated procedural questions, prompting Parliament to clarify the definitions of the two positions in its current Standing Orders.
He noted that the established practice is for the political party, through its General Secretary, to formally communicate the caucus leadership decision to the Speaker.
The Majority Caucus must also formally take the decision to designate its leader before Parliament can accord the individual the recognition and courtesies attached to the position.
Until those steps are completed, Mr Agalga cannot formally take over the Majority Leader’s position in Parliament, regardless of the President’s public announcement.
The clarification effectively places the next step in the hands of the governing party and its Majority Caucus, which must complete the required procedure before the leadership change can take effect in the House.
