Former Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has made a strong case for elevating the role of the Majority Leader to a cabinet-level position.
In a recent interview with the media, he highlighted the challenges faced by parliamentary leaders not in cabinet.
The Suame MP argued that the absence of a cabinet role for the Majority Leader hampers effective collaboration between Parliament and the executive branch.
“The Majority Leader should be a minister,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated, emphasising the importance of cabinet participation for those leading government business.
“Not just a minister but… a cabinet minister. Why? Because the Majority Leader, to the extent that your party controls the executive, is the leader of government business.”
Explaining the impact of this limitation, Mr Kyei-Mensah Bonsu said, “You cannot be a leader of government business when, in the arena for fashioning government business, you are not part of it, which is cabinet.”
He stressed that without cabinet access, the Majority Leader often lacks the full context of policies and proposals presented in Parliament.
He pointed out the practical difficulties this creates, including presenting cabinet-approved papers to Parliament.
“If you are not a minister, as a leader of government business, you can’t even present papers from cabinet to Parliament,” he explained, adding that official submissions are typically reserved for ministers.
“So when papers for representation are announced, the Majority Leader has to look over his shoulders to see whether there is a minister there and tell him, ‘Can you come and present this paper on behalf of government to Parliament?’”
While Alexander Afenyo Markin, who succeeded Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as Majority Leader, is not in cabinet, the former leader questioned why this cabinet inclusion was not a priority.
“I don’t know why he is not clamouring for that,” Mensah Bonsu remarked. “It’s not for me to make myself a minister. It’s the President who will appoint.”
He noted that the position doesn’t require the Majority Leader to be a Minister for Parliamentary Affairs but recommended cabinet ranking as a Minister of State.
“I’m just saying that he should be part of cabinet,” he affirmed, suggesting he would address the issue directly with Markin, stating, “I need to discuss with him why he isn’t…I will discuss that with him as well.”
Source: Richard Nana Appiah Kubi/Ahotoronline.com
