Accra, Dec 16, GNA - A source close to the NPP on Wednesday hinted that a new speaker is likely to replace Mr Peter Ala Adjetey in the 2005 Parliament.

A high-ranking member revealed that the party would prefer a Speaker who would be more supportive of the Majority in their deliberations in the House.

The Minority members wanted him retained.

However, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Felix Owusu-Agyepong, told the GNA that the issue of whether to retain the current Speaker of Parliament Mr Peter Ala Adjetey or not would be decided in the next Parliament when the leadership of the House had been selected.

He said no one in the current Parliament had the power to decide, who the next Speaker would be until those with the prerogative. "That will happen after the new MP's have been ushered into office on January 7, 2005."

Mr Owusu-Agyapong said the President in consultation with the National Council of the NPP would make a proposal for the position of the Speaker, after which the elected leaders of the Majority in Parliament would make the name available to the House for approval.