Consult first before taking major decisions – Fifi Kwetey to Majority Caucus

The General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has urged the Majority caucus leadership in Parliament to consult the party before taking major policy decisions.

Mr Kwetey made the call during an interview on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday evening while commenting on recent plans by the Majority Leader and the Majority Chief Whip to introduce a private member’s bill to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

According to him, while the party appreciates the efforts of the parliamentary leadership, major initiatives must be aligned with broader party positions to avoid unnecessary public disagreements.

“You heard what the president said. In that respect, what I’ll say is this: the Majority Leader, the Chief Whip, they are doing a great job so far,” he noted. “But there is a need for them to appreciate that they are not an island.”

Mr Kwetey stressed that Parliament functions as part of the party’s overall political machinery, making consultation essential before decisions of national significance are announced or pursued.

“They are operating as part of the party, so major decisions have to be done in consultation with the party,” he said. “Clearly, we were not consulted.”

The comments follow revelations by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor that they were considering a private member’s bill to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor, arguing that the office had not been effective.

The proposal triggered swift pushback from President John Dramani Mahama, who publicly expressed support for the OSP and called for efforts to strengthen, rather than dismantle, the institution.

The president’s position was later formalised in a statement issued by the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, urging the Majority caucus to abandon the planned bill.

Mr Kwetey suggested that the situation could have been avoided entirely if internal consultation had taken place before the proposal was made public.

“So the point I’m making is this: don’t go doing this that will force the president to come and say no,” he cautioned. “Work as an organ. Work together. We don’t need to go through that.”

He explained that public contradictions between the executive and the parliamentary wing of the party risk creating confusion and undermining collective discipline, especially on sensitive governance issues.

In his view, the controversy was not about questioning the authority or intentions of the Majority caucus leadership but about maintaining coherence within the party’s decision-making structures.

Mr Kwetey emphasised that the NDC operates on the principle of collective responsibility, where major policy directions are shaped through dialogue between the party, Parliament, and the presidency.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor was established to investigate and prosecute corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officials.

While it has faced criticism over its impact and effectiveness, the Mahama administration has indicated its preference for reforming the office rather than scrapping it.