Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu has been nominated as the minority leader on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in parliament.
He beat Member of Parliament for Ketu North and Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, James Avedzi to the post.
He was proposed by General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia. The next parliament will be constituted on January 6, 2017.
Before his nomination, a former Majority leader in parliament Cletus Avoka said Haruna Iddrisu is the best candidate for the minority leader position in parliament.
Klutse Avedzi is the Deputy Minority Leader.
Read also:I will not embarrass Nana Addo - Dep. Chief of Staff
Avoka said he believes Haruna Iddrisu is more resourceful for the job than any other contender.
"I think Haruna Iddrisu is very resourceful and if he can combine that with having a listening ear, being tolerant with the bench behind him, he will be a very good leader," he said.
Read more: Read the full text of Mahama's last State of the Nation address
Haruna Iddrisu was the National Youth Organiser for the National Democratic Congress since 2002. He stood for parliament in the 2004 parliamentary election in the Tamale South constituency and won after beating a former Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Mustpaha Ali Idris who was the incumbent at the time.
He retained the seat in 2008 when the NDC won the presidential and majority of seats in Ghana’s parliament.
Read also:Nana Addo names security capos
He served in various portfolios in government, including Minister for Communications under the Mills and Mahama governments as well as Minister for Trade between 2013 and 2014.
He was appointed the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations by President Mahama in July 2014.