Political analyst Samuel Boateng has criticised Mahama Ayariga’s performance as Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, describing his tenure as ineffective and overly partisan.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Boateng said Ayariga, the Bawku Central MP who has now been nominated as Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development, failed to provide the kind of leadership required of the position.
He argued that the Majority Leader has an important role in maintaining cooperation within the governing caucus while also building working relationships with members of the opposition.
According to Boateng, Ayariga struggled on both fronts because of what he described as his excessive partisanship.
“Mahama Ayariga failed to be effective and efficient as Majority Leader. He could have done better. When you are the Majority Leader, you have two core things to achieve. You should win the hearts of your caucus and the minds of the opposition,” he said.
Boateng said Ayariga’s approach to parliamentary business also affected his effectiveness as Leader of Government Business, a role that requires efforts to keep the House together and facilitate the passage of government policies and initiatives.
“To be truthful, he has not been impressive as Majority Leader. He was too partisan as Leader of Government Business,” he added.
The analyst also pointed to Ayariga’s public comments and conduct on the floor of Parliament, arguing that these further undermined his performance in the leadership position.
He said the Majority Leader must help create an environment in which government business can progress through Parliament, but claimed Ayariga failed to achieve that objective during his tenure.
“As Leader of Government Business, you have a responsibility to hold the house together. You are to ensure that the policies and initiatives succeed in the House. However, throughout his leadership, he failed,” Boateng said.
He therefore described Ayariga’s nomination to head the Local Government Ministry as a strategic move and said his removal from the Majority Leader position did not come as a surprise.
Under the proposed ministerial reshuffle, Ayariga is expected to replace Banda MP Ahmed Ibrahim at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development.
Ahmed Ibrahim is set to move to the Ministry of Works and Housing, replacing Gilbert Adjei, who will take over at the Ministry of Defence.
Boateng said the changes should serve as a wake-up call for other government appointees, particularly on the need to improve their political strategy and engagement with Parliament.
