Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, Sylvester
Matthew Tetteh, has expressed concern over the continued absence of Dome
Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo from the House.
The legislator opined that the Adwoa Safo saga had
become a thorny one that needs to be addressed.
Speaking on Metro TV’s ‘Good Morning Ghana’ on
July 14, Sylvester Tetteh chastised the Dome Kwabenya MP for maintaining social
media presence but failing to communicate with the leadership
of Parliament on matters pertaining to her absence.
He insisted that although nobody was interested in
seeing her booted out of Parliament, it was important for her work as an
MP and minister as she continues to receive salary despite her absence.
Sylvester Tetteh also expressed confidence in the
NPP to take a decision on her after the party’s national congress slated for
this weekend.
“I think that if Adwoa Safo should appear or even
if she’s not coming for a special reason, she should be able to communicate
to Parliament and that is where I have a problem. Because if she
could go on social media to do videos and the rest, then it means she can
equally communicate with leadership of Parliament.
“I think this issue has become quite thorny. I’m
not too comfortable with it. Nobody is interested in getting her out
of Parliament but we are interested in getting her back to work
especially when you are drawing salary.
“There hasn’t been an indication that her salary
has been ceased and the good people of Dome Kwabenya needs a representation…for
that long I think that’s quite problematic,” Sylvester Tetteh mentioned.
While responding to why President Akufo-Addo has
not relived Adwoa Safo of her ministerial position, the Bortianor-Ngleshie
Amanfro MP said it was the prerogative of the president.
He maintained that the legislature, the Executive
and the party all had a role to play in bringing finality to the matter.
“Adwoa Safo’s issue…being a member of the party,
an MP, a member of government. So the government has a responsibility. That’s
the president's prerogative so to do.
“If the matter comes to the plenary and I have to
comment or take a decision, I will do my. So parliament has its own [role].
“She could be sacked from Parliament but
remains as a minister of state. That one it is the president’s prerogative as
to whether to sack her or otherwise.
“The party also has a responsibility whether to
withdraw her or suspend her from the party or anything . So three different
institutions have a responsibility to what is happening to Adwoa Safo,” he
stated.
Meanwhile, Joe Wise in an interview with Joy News
said the seat of Adwoa Safo is automatically vacant following her failure to
appear before the Privileges Committee.
He indicated that the report of the Committee had
recommended for the Clerk to write to the Electoral Commission indicating the
vacancy in Parliament.
“In respect of the other two [Kennedy
Agyapong and Henry Quartey], all our report will say is that they appeared
before the Committee, they offered explanations, the Committee finds the explanations
reasonable.
“She [Adwoa Safo] failed to take advantage of the
opportunities given her…she failed or refused to explain why she’s absent. So
in the absence of any explanation, the Constitution in Article 97(1)(a) kicks
in that she must vacate her seat,” Joe Wise added.
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