Newly appointed Majority Leader in Parliament, James Agalga, has dismissed suggestions that he could be intimidated in his new position, stressing that his extensive experience in the House has prepared him adequately for the responsibility.
The Builsa North Member of Parliament said his record as a ranking member, committee chairman and long-serving legislator demonstrates that he is not new to leadership in Parliament.
His comments follow concerns raised by former Defence Minister and Bimbilla MP, Dominic Nitiwul, who questioned Mr Agalga’s leadership experience and suggested that he had not previously occupied one of Parliament’s top leadership positions.
Responding to the criticism, Mr Agalga said his performance in the new role would ultimately determine how his leadership is assessed.
“I think that the end shall justify the means. Do I look like somebody who can be bullied?” he asked.
“We leave the rest for the people to judge when we settle down to work,” he added.
Mr Agalga pointed to his eight-year tenure as Ranking Member as evidence of his experience in parliamentary leadership.
“I want to assure you that I am not new to leadership in Parliament. I have been ranking member for eight solid years. I am currently the chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee,” he said.
He argued that these positions form part of Parliament’s leadership structure and therefore make it inaccurate to describe him as inexperienced in leadership.
The Majority Leader further maintained that his long service in Parliament has earned him the respect of his colleagues and makes the suggestion that he could be bullied untenable.
“I am a full-term Member of Parliament. And so, I do not think that any colleague of mine in the House can bully me,” he stated.
Mr Agalga said he remains focused on delivering on his responsibilities and ensuring the smooth conduct of government business when Parliament resumes.
He added that Ghanaians should judge his leadership based on his actions and results rather than assumptions about his ability to lead.
“But like I said, the end shall justify the means,” he reiterated.
