He noted that Haruna Id­drisu, James Klutse Avedzi and Muntaka Mubarak worked well as Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader and Minority Chief Whip respectively.

Therefore, the new leaders will need to tap into their experience for support in times of difficulty.

In a statement issued recently, he said; “I have followed the fall­out from the change in minority leadership and I must admit both sides, for and against the decision of the executive leadership of the NDC party, make compelling arguments.

In fact, I have to admit that Haruna Iddrisu, Muntaka and Avedzi have not only cleverly shepherded their colleague Mem­bers of Parliament (MPs) to pro­vide distinctively knowledgeable opposition to the government, but have also dignified their respective roles to almost being peerless.”

“And it was from such rarity in quality leadership that birthed the current leadership in Ato Forson, Agbodza and Buah.

These ‘new’ made men will suc­ceed, but they will falter too, and whose giant shoulders will they fall on in crisis moments, other than those of Iddrisu and Muntaka?

And yet, Iddrisu and Muntaka are ripe for much bigger roles whose time will come with the support of the very men replacing them in Parliament and the party’s rank and file, which must not be divided,” the statement said.

It added that; “the country needs a viable alternative to the current economic atrophy. The NDC must be worthy, but in unity.”

Some of the NDC MPs includ­ing Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed expressed shock at the decision by NDC to change the party’s leader­ship in Parliament.

The decision was made known on Tuesday, January 24 with the Member of Parliament for Ajuma­ko-Enyan-Essiam Constituency, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, replacing Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader.

Ellembelle’s Emmanuel Ar­mah-Kofi Buah also replaces James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader and Kwame Agbodza becoming the Chief Whip.

Commenting on the issue Mr Mohammed, who is MP for Tamale Central said there was no consultation whatsoever with the caucus before the release was made to the Speaker of Parliament.

“Every single MP was sur­prised,” he said, “And I can tell you that even those who have been proposed to take leadership, some of them were surprised that such a proposal was made without even consulting them.”

He condemned the mode of communication, saying as an MP he got wind of the decision on social media like many other NDC MPs.

The NDC MP for Agotime Ziope, Charles Agbeve also demanded explanations about the decision.