Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Takes Back Seat For The First Time In 24 Years

The immediate past Majority leader in Ghana’s Parliament Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has taken a seat at the back of the front bench for the first time in almost 24 years in the legislative arm of government.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who was used to sitting at the front roll in the chamber tendered in his resignation as Majority leader on February 21, 2024 following moves by his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to change the leadership of the majority caucus in parliament.

The Suame lawmaker who is also Minister for Parliametary Affairs sat one a seat behind the usual black chair reserved for only the Majority leader at the front roll, a day after his resignation, February 22, 2024.

According to a purported list making rounds, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was expected to be replaced with his deputy, Member for Effutu in the Central region, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, as the next Majority leader.

The Suame Member of Parliament Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has since 2001 sat at the front bench as part of leadership both in majority and minority and held several leadership positions from his second term till his resignation few days after his 67th birthday.

Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, an Urban Planner born on February 3, 1957 was first elected Member of Parliament representing the people of Old Tafo -Suame Constitutuency in the Ashanti region in 1997.

The constituency was split up into two the Old Tafo and the Suame constituencies in the lead up to the 2004 elections.

Mr Osei who has been part of leadership was the secretary to the Minority Caucus in his first term in Parliament from 1997.

He became the Deputy Majority Whip from 2001 to 2002 and the Majority Chief Whip from 2002 to 2007 and rose to become the Deputy Majority Leader and Minister of State in charge of Parliamentary Affairs from 2007 to January, 2009.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu then became the Minority Leader from 2009 to January, 2013 and also from 2013 to January, 2017.

The astute and deligent Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu championed the crafting of several legislations as leader of government business and has good appreciation of legal issues with par excellence in his even though not a lawyer.

He has served on various committees in various capacities as a member or chairman.

These include the Business Committee; Committee on Selection; Committee on Works and Housing; Committee on Youth and Sports; Committee on Lands and Forestry; Committee on Subsidiary Legislation; Special Budget Committee, Appointments Committee; Standing Orders Committee.

By: Christian Kpesese