"Bagbin Complained He Had Lost Interest In Parliament" - Minority Leader

The Minority leader in Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has expressed his dissatisfaction and sadness about the removal of the Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Alban Bagbin, from his position. The Majority Leader, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who has gathered vast experience from Parliament throughout his long stay in the House, culminating in his leading the minority into government, was part of President Mills' first batch of ministerial re-shuffle. According to the Minority leader, "the reshuffling of all the three topmost and experienced Members of Parliament (MP), Hon. E.T. Mensah, Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and Hon. John Tia, was a big blow which could go a long way to weaken the parliamentary machinery in the immediate term." "I am not looking at the political side of the issue but i'm more interested in the well being of Parliament as an institution, and the country at large...Hon Alban Bagbin has a lot of parliamentary experience and so parliament needed his ideas to enhance its work," he said. Speaking to Peace FM on �Kokrokoo�, he said the majority leader often complained of his long stay in Parliament, and felt his work was becoming monotonous. "Occasionally, he himself complained he had worked in Parliament for too long and needed a new challenge," he stated. Hon. Kyei Mensah Bonsu added that at certain times, Hon Bagbin got frustrated as his powers were limited. He proposed that since the position of a majority leader was very vital in the government machinery, the law should be amended to give prominence to that position. He was of the view that it was high time a provision was made to include the majority leader in the cabinet. "The majority leader's position could be turn into a Prime Minister, or he could also double as a senior minister...In this position, he can push the government�s policies forward and be able to convince and influence his colleagues in Parliament....indeed (his absence) is quite a big blow to Parliament,� he added. Some have described Hon Bagbin�s reshuffle to the Works and Housing Ministry as a demotion, but Hon Kyei Mensah Bonsu considers it as a "horizontal adjustment� eventhough he strongly held that President Mills should not have re-shuffled Hon Bagbin. �I don�t think it is the best thing that the President has done to Parliament," he added. He told Peace FM that there were so many issues currently being discussed between him and the majority, which have now come to a halt due to the latest development. �We were in Koforidua for 4days to discuss a review of our standing orders and now he is no more with us,� he said apparently referring to other businesses which they carried out in the interest of Parliament. On the re-shuffling of Hon. E.T. Mensah, MP for Ningo-Prampram who had been in parliament since 1997, he said he was also another backbone of Parliament due to his leadership skills. �When it comes to contacts with the executive, he was a genius, so whenever we hit the wall as Parliamentarians, he had the skills to penetrate the power-house on behalf of Parliament,� he said. Toching on the re-shuffling of Hon. John Tia, Dep Majority Leader, who has been in Parliament for close to 18 years, Hon. Kyei Mensah Bonsu said "he will be missed greatly for the passion he had in seeking the welfare of all parliamentarians when he headed that section." The Minority Leader opined that though Avoka�s experience in Parliament was not near that of Hon. Alban Bagbin, he believes "with time he will catch up." Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu remarked that the President had weakened Parliament. �I think it is going to make Parliament grow weaker. The building of parliament...strengthening it as an institution of governance....with the removal of the three people at once, it will be a problem,� he added.