Sarah Adwoa Safo
A section of Ghanaians are wondering the reason behind the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) strong support for the continuous absence of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo from Parliament.
A number of members from the Minority side appear to be happy about what is transpiring in the Majority side and have launched a strong defence for the Dome-Kwabenya lawmaker.
The NDC MPs are on their feet defending the absentee MPs.
Ahmed Ibrahim, Deputy Minority Whip has asked Majority Caucus to stop blaming Adwoa Safo for their inability to carry out government business.
The MP for Banda believes the Majority side of the house are not ready to do government business hence Adwoa Safo continuous absent should not be an excuse.
Ahmed Ibrahim stated on Joy Fm that “Even With Adwoa Safo, they cannot mobolize the remaining 137 because the Majority themselves are not happy with the E-levy so they can’t build consensus on it let alone to call for the whole house”.
He noted “I also always don’t want to shift the blame… It is not as if absence of Adwoa Safo or the Speaker Bagbin that is why the e-levy is not being passed. If Adwoa Safo comes today, their numbers will still be down because they can’t build consensus on E-levy as a Majority side.”
MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa wrote on his social media platform when speaking on the absenteeism of the MP wondered the ground which Adwoa Safo will be removed from the House.
“I am therefore perplexed and wondering in all sincerity, the basis for the discriminatory and unprincipled attacks on Sarah Adwoa Safo by our colleagues on the NPP side of the house and particularly from Ken Ohene Agyapong who is equally guilty of the same offence he has been raving and ranting about,” he said.
According to him, Henry Quartey and Kennedy Agyapong have absented themselves for more then two weeks last year.
Okudzeto stressed in his post that “Votes and proceedings confirming the absentee status of the offending 3 NPP MPs remain intact and well-secured.
“The unprincipled discrimination against Sarah Adwoa Safo by her own colleagues simply because of obnoxious of E-levy must cease forthwith.”
He earlier wrote that “From a thorough and unimpeachable assessment of the Votes and Proceedings of Parliament — between October 26, 2021 and November 24, 2021; two NPP MPs: Ken Ohene Agyapong and Henry Quartey who is also Greater Accra Regional Minister were absent without permission from the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Alban S.K. Bagbin, for 18 working days each.
“I am therefore perplexed and wondering, in all sincerity, the basis for the discriminatory and unprincipled attacks on Sarah Adwoa Safo by our colleagues on the NPP side of the House, and particularly from Ken Ohene Agyapong who is equally guilty of the same offence he’s been raving and ranting about.
“In all fairness, we expect and will also ensure that the Privileges Committee considers the matter of three absenting MPs and not one. Article 97 (1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 16 (1) of our Standing Orders must not and will not be applied selectively.
“Realistically, Ghanaians should be preparing for three by-elections in Assin Central, Ayawaso Central and Dome/Kwabenya.”
As if that is not enough, another NDC MP, moved to express his support for Adwoa Safo when reacting to a video in which Kennedy Agyapong was seen lambasting his Baby mama on GTV Monday.
The South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafaamekpor stated that “NPP told the world that an MP can be present in Parliament without being in the Chamber. They claim to have rescinded the rejection of the 2022 budget on these grounds so why Hon. Adwoa Safo absence from the Chamber a problem now?
“On 6th October 2021, govt informed the entire nation that it has granted & extended leave of absence dating back to August 2021 to the Hon. Adwoa Safo as a cabinet minister until further notice. So is govt happy of her absence in Cabinet but unhappy with her absence in Parliament?”
Exposing the Minority on their defence for Adwoa Safo, the MP for Bole Bamboi, Yusif Sulemana asked his colleagues from the same side on Accra based Citi Fm to channel their effort in fighting the E-levy than wasting time on the removal of Adwoa Safo.
He said ” Those of us in the Minority side are not happy about her absence. What we know is that we are 137 and ready to vote against the E-levy anytime, any day. We have listendd to Ghanaians and decided to do what is in their best interest.
“I will not advise any Minority MP to raise issue over the absence of one of the members of the house. I have heard members of the Majority say they are going to trigger parliamentary processes to remove her. If that is what they want to do, we will only listen what the speaker has to say and advise ourselves.”
Samuel Nartey George nailed their support for Adwoa Safo when he tweeted that “it would be interesting to see what the NPP make a move for speaker to declare the Dome-Kwabenya vacant. Between 2019 and 2020, the MP for Lower West Akim, Hon. Kyei Baffour was missing for over a year from Parliament
yet no such move was made. Principles versus expediency.”
The former Deputy Majority Leader’s continuous absence in Parliament is said to be making government business in the chamber difficult.
She had become the subject of public debate some months ago following allegations that she was impersonated during Parliamentary proceedings on November 30, 2021, because the Majority side needed the numbers at all cost to approve the government’s 2022 budget, which they did despite the disapproval by the minority side.
Shockingly, the MP is seen on Tik Tok entertaining herself at the expense of government business in parliament.
This has therefore sparked controversy among a section of Ghanaians and some parliamentarians earning the title TiTok MP.
By Vincent Kubi