Ato Forson as Minority Leader fires up NDC in Central Region – Party Chairmen target 20 seats

The 44-year old Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Member of Parliament (MP) for  the Ajumako Enyam Essiam in the Central Region,  a former Deputy Minister for Finance, who has become Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in Parliament has sparked some renewed energy and grassroots support for his party in the Region.

All Constituency Chairmen of the NDC and the Regional Executive of the party, in response to the elevation of Dr. Ato Forson,  have rolled out a deliberate and sustained grassroots based campaign to ensure the party wins a minimum of 20 parliamentary seats in the 2024 general elections as well as get a minimum of 60 percent votes for the party’s presidential candidate.

Currently, the NDC has 13 out of the 23 parliamentary seats in the Central Region after the 2020 general elections. The presidential voter results were however different as the  New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s candidate Nana Akufo-Addo won in 19 of the constituencies.

The renewed affirmation of the NDC in the Region was explained  at a press conference addressed by the Regional Chairman, Prof Richard Kofi Asiedu  early this week.

The press conference held at the Central Regional NDC headquarters in Cape Coast attended by the 23 Constituency Chairmen to congratulate Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on his appointment as the Leader of the Minority Caucus in Parliament.

The Central Regional NDC Chairman said  Dr. Ato Forson is the longest serving Member of Parliament in the Region and he  widens the electoral margins in every parliamentary election and maximizes the presidential votes for the party.

“You have exhibited your competence when given the opportunity as the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee. Having successfully carried yourself by hard work and pursuing your parliamentary duties with perseverance and purpose, we have no doubt on our minds that you will live up to the expectations” , the NDC Chairman disclosed.

“The Central Regional Leadership of the NDC sincerely pleads with the entire Members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament to give their support and entrust their confidence in the leadership of Dr. Ato Forson. We must all understand that leadership evolves. Leaders will come and go but the Caucus must not be divided. Let us all give the maximum support and rally around the new leaders to deliver as we did for our previous leaders” Prof Kofi Asiedu begged.

Prof Kofi Asiedu urged Dr. Ato Forson and his team to stay focused and committed to the purpose since true stars rise to the top not by chance, but through purpose and passion.

“We would like to pledge our unalloyed and unflinching support to the Leadership of the Minority Caucus led by Dr. Ato Baah Forson and at all times offer prayers and work hard for the success of our parliamentary group for the betterment of Ghana” Prof Kofi Asiedu stated.

The NDC Central Regional leadership noted further that Dr. Ato Forson who was the Chairman of the Central Regional NDC Parliamentary Caucus they observed, worked assiduously with the party leadership and the parliamentary candidates to win more seats in the 2020 general elections.

The NDC Executives therefore express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the National Leadership of the party for reposing confidence in Dr. Ato Forson they described as an illustrious son of the Central Region as the Leader of the Minority Caucus in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Parliament resumed sitting yesterday Tuesday February 6 and the new leadership of the Minority Caucus led by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson took over the front bench of the Minority side.

Dr. Ato Forson was seen occupying the front bench of the NDC in Parliament together with his Deputy, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza.

First and Second Deputy Minority Whips –Armed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyoe-Ghansah who were retained from the previous leadership were also in their seats.

The reinforced NDC side would certainly be a crack team with the sole task of outsmarting and outwitting the NPP led Majority that is even already divided within and now has what has become known as a ‘Rebel MPs’ group.

With the reinforced Minority Group, the NPP Majority, more than ever, would require a tactful leadership that has no deficit in strategy.

It, as a matter of urgency, begs for a proactive and creative leadership with strategic negotiation acumen able to reach out to the other side of the divide and silently build consensus of mutual benefit behind closed doors before converging at the Plenary for the antics of parliamentary procedure.

Meanwhile, there are no indications whatsoever the NPP is considering a more tactical front that would not haplessly stand akimbo and watch with an unplanned glee while it is outwitted like it was during the vote for Speaker.