MPs to debate on Adwoa Sarfo and two absentee MPs’ report after Bagbin’s clearance

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has given clearance for a report from the Privileges Committee on three absentee Members of Parliament to be tabled and discussed in the House.

Mr. Bagbin on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, dismissed attempts for the Speaker to declare some of the seats vacant without a formal debate of the Privileges Committee’s report.

In his ruling, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin said, “the preliminary objection for the admissibility of the report is hereby dismissed in limine.”

The three members—Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central, Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso West, and Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome Kwabenya were referred to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves from Parliament beyond the permissible period without any reason.

While Kennedy Agyapong and Henry Quartey appeared before the committee and attributed their actions to ill health, Adwoa Safo failed to honour the summons.

She attributed her long absence from Parliament to family issues, saying, among other things, that her son was unwell.

She was recently sacked by the President from her portfolio as Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

Prior to Parliament’s recess in July 2022, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had among other things insisted that the Privileges Committee’s report should not be subject to debate in the House.

This request was however rejected by the Speaker of Parliament.