Reports emerging from the National Council meeting of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) suggest, Justice Jones Mawulorm Dotse, will not be the Speaker of the 8th Parliament.
The Council is reported to have settled on the incumbent, Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye, as the Speaker of Parliament against Jones Dotse, Freddie Blay and Frank Davies, whose names were mentioned as interested in the job.
Twice, Justice Dotse’s name had popped up for appointment as Chief Justice under President Akufo-Addo, but the job was given to Sophia Akuffo and Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, respectively.
The Speaker’s job was reportedly dangled before him by the President, obviously to keep his loyalty, but that promise doesn’t look like it will materialize.
The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, is said to have the ultimate say and might go against the party’s choice of Prof. Ocquaye, but that looks most unlikely against a man said to his maternal cousin.
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame in the Ashanti Region, also gets to maintain his position as Majority leader and will be assisted by Alex Afenyo Markin, the MP for Efutu in the Central Region.
Sarah Adwoa Sarfo of the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, had held the Deputy Majority Leader position, surprisingly with a Ministerial portfolio; Minister of Public Procurement in the last government.
Majority Chief Whip position goes to Annor Dompreh of Nsawam Aduagyire.
His two deputies Deputy Chief Whips are Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the Ayawaso West Wuogon MP in the Greater Accra Region and Habib of Tolon in the Northern Region.
Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has said these selections are only recommendations subject to the approval of President Akufo-Addo.
If Mike Ocquaye goes through, he will be the second Speaker in the history of the Fourth Public to have a two-term under the same President.
The first was Justice Francis Daniel Annan under the late Jerry John Rawlings.
Source: www.theheraldghana.com
