National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has defended the party’s controversial decision to replace Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak as leaders of the Minority in Parliament, insisting it was the right call despite the criticism it attracted.
Speaking on Accra-based Joy News, Mr Asiedu Nketiah said he has no regrets over the unprecedented reshuffle, which saw Dr Cassiel Ato Forson replace Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader and Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah take over as Deputy Minority Leader, while Kwame Governs Agbodza became Minority Chief Whip, replacing Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak.
The reshuffle, announced ahead of the 2024 general election while the NDC was in opposition, marked the first time an opposition party in Ghana had undertaken such a significant overhaul of its parliamentary leadership.
“It doesn’t change the truth, whether some people accept it or not. The truth remains the truth,” Asiedu Nketiah said.
“As I’ve said, a rose described by whatever adjectives will still smell sweet. So I always want to stay on the side of truth. Once I say something and it is true, whether you accept it or not, that is it. I’m okay with that. I sleep and sleep well.”
The NDC chairman, popularly known as General Mosquito, dismissed suggestions that discussing the circumstances surrounding the reshuffle publicly had hurt some party members, insisting no one had reason to feel offended.
“I don’t think that anybody ought to be hurt. I didn’t think that it was reasonable for anybody to be hurt,” he said, arguing that anyone who listened to his full explanation would realise “it was much ado about nothing.”
He also rejected suggestions that the decision had damaged his relationship with Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak.
“I’m cool with my junior brothers Haruna and Muntaka, and we are moving together in Accra,” he said, revealing that he had spoken with Haruna just a day earlier and remains in regular contact with Muntaka.
Responding to criticism that the reshuffle was unprecedented in Ghana’s opposition politics, Asiedu Nketiah said every major political development has to begin somewhere.
“So it means it will never happen? There must be a first time for something,” he said.
He maintained that he would always pursue what he believed was necessary to achieve results.
“If I believe that this is the right way of achieving my results, I will go for it, even though heaven falls.”
Asiedu Nketiah acknowledged that Muntaka was initially deeply unhappy with the decision and even described it as “a coup.”
However, he said such reactions were expected because difficult decisions often involve temporary pain.
“If I know that that cut is necessary to heal you, I’m good with it,” he said.
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