Majority and Minority leaders in Parliament for the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana have been nominated and endorsed by Members of Parliament (MPs).
The Seventh Parliament would be constituted today [Friday] January 6, 2017, ahead of the official swearing-in of President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo, on Saturday, January 7, 2017.
The NPP secured 171 seats as against the 104 secured by the NDC in the December 2016 election.
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President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo in consultation with the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has nominated former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye as the next Speaker of Parliament.
For a candidate to emerge as Speaker, he or she must have been elected by members of the House or persons who are qualified to be elected as a member of Parliament.
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This is the full list of the new leadership in Parliament:
Speaker: Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye
Mike Oquaye served as the Second Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament between 2009 and 2013. He also was Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya constituency, a strong hold of the NPP, from 2005 to 2013.
From 2001 to 2004, Oquaye served as Ghana’s High Commissioner to India. In February 2005 he became Minister of Energy, and later he was moved to the post of Minister of Communications.
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Mike Oquaye is a professor of Political science at the University of Ghana, (Legon), and was previously the Head of the Department of Political Science and member of the University’s Academic Board, the highest authority at the level of the faculties.
He received his Ph.D from School of Oriental and African Studies in London, as well as winning the Rockefeller Senior Scholar Award in 1993 and the Senior Fulbright Scholar Award in 1997.
First Deputy Speaker: Mr Joseph Osei Owusu
Member of Parliament for Bekwai in the Ashanti region, Mr Joe Osei-Owusu has also been proposed as the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
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Mr Osei-Owusu in a radio interview said, "I must say that the discussion has gone on for some time now, it’s been back and forth. Very senior members actually talked me into coming into that position."
Second Deputy Speaker: Mr Alban Bagbin
On the side of the Minority, Mr Alban Sumana Bagbin, MP for Nadowli/Kaleo has been proposed as the Second Deputy Speaker.
Majority Leader and Deputy: Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu
The Majority side has also selected Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Member of Parliament for Suame as the Majority Leader whiles Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya in Greater Accra is the Deputy Minority Leader.
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Majority Whip: Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh
Minority Leader: Haruna Iddrisu
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the outgoing Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, has served on a number of committees in Parliament including the Appointments Committee, the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Committee, as well as the Judicial Committee.
Deputy Minority Leader: James Klutse Avedzi
Mr Avedzi is Member of Parliament for Ketu North. He is a Chartered Accountant and has served in Parliament for 12 years. He is the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament.
Minority Chief Whip: Mohammed Muntaka
Deputy Minority Chief Whip: