Mahama Ayariga considered as potential successor to Ato Forson as Majority Leader in 9th Parliament

There are indications that the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, could be appointed as the Majority Leader in the 9th Parliament, replacing Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, should Dr Forson be confirmed as the Minister of Finance.

Dr Forson, who currently serves as the Majority Leader, was vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday following his nomination as Finance Minister.

If approved, Dr Forson may have to vacate his leadership role in Parliament to focus on his ministerial duties, necessitating the selection of a new Majority Leader by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus.

Mahama Ayariga’s name has emerged as a potential successor to Dr Forson, who represents the Ajumako Enyan Essiam constituency.

According to Graphic Online, the Bawku Central MP’s nomination is under consideration by the NDC leadership.

This development comes nearly two years after a significant reshuffle in the NDC’s parliamentary leadership. On January 24, 2023, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson replaced Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader in a move described by NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah as part of the party’s restructuring efforts, from the grassroots to the flagbearer level.

The decision on Ayariga’s appointment is expected to shape the dynamics of the NDC’s leadership within Parliament.

Profile of Mahama Ayariga

Mahama Ayariga was born on May 24, 1974. He is a lawyer by profession and a politician. He was the Minister of Information and Media Relations and the Minister of Youth and Sports under the previous John Dramani Mahama administration (24 July 2012 to 7 January 2017).

Mr Ayariga was born in Bawku in the Upper East Region of Ghana. He attended school in Ghana, Nigeria, and the United States of America. He attended Barewa College in Zaria in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

He holds a Master of Law (LLM) from Harvard Law School in the United States of America and a Bachelor of Law (LLB) from the University of Ghana, Legon.

He started his career as a Teaching Assistant in Natural Resources Law and International Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana. He also co-founded and was the Executive Director of the Legal Resources Centre, an organization that promotes human rights, community development, and social justice.

 Mr Ayariga became a member of Ghana’s parliament for the Bawku Central Constituency from January, 2005, until he lost his seat to Adamu Dramani Sakande of the New Patriotic Party in the 2008 elections.

The seat became vacant when Adamu was convicted and jailed by a court for standing for the election while being a citizen of another country, which is against the Ghana constitution. Ayariga recaptured the seat in the 2012 General Elections.

In 2009, when Prof John Evans Atta Mills won the elections, Ayariga became the Presidential Spokesman before he was subsequently appointed Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry and Deputy Minister of Education.

Mr Ayariga was nominated for appointment as Minister for Information by President John Dramani Mahama in January 2013. He serves on the Appointments Committee of Ghana’s 9th Parliament of the 4th Republic.

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