Abena Osei-Asare Intervenes as Sam George Delivers Funny Jab to Akufo-Addo and Co During PAC Hearing
- Minister of Communications Samuel George and Abena Osei-Asare squared up at the Public Accounts Committee
- George was speaking on the past financials of Ghana Post when their light-hearted interaction occurred
- Osei-Asare took issue with a tangent the minister had gone on when answering the question posed to him
Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel George, didn't miss a chance to pile criticism on the Akufo-Addo administration during his appearance at the Public Accounts Committee.
During the hearing on November 3, George was confronted with expenditure issues at Ghana Post.
Source: Facebook
Ghana Post delivered profits in 2023, but its operating cost went up by 35% while administrative expenses went up by 52%.
When asked about increased expenditure at Ghana Post in 2023, he said it was because of the mismanagement of the economy.
George explained that a weak cedi contributed to higher forex payments to airlines.
"When you saw the mismanagement when Ken Ofori-Atta, Abena [Osei-Asare] and co were at the finance ministry and Dr Bawumia in charge of the economic management team..."
The committee chair, Abena Osei-Asare, interjected and chided George for his criticism of individuals.
"Just go straight to your answer and don’t be name-calling," she noted during the jovial exchange.
In his simplified answer, George said the increased expenditure was due to forex losses.
Osei-Asare suggested there were probably other expenditures at Ghana Post that needed culling.
She was concerned with a trend of institutions increasing expenditure when revenue increased
"These are the other things we should be looking at… There are other equally important things we should spend some time to help them with."
DVLA boss' controversy in Parliament
Osei-Asare was at the centre of a more heated exchange on October 27 during the hearing.
The CEO of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Julius Neequaye Kotey, made an appearance and Osei-Asare was upset with him because of a perceived insult during an exchange.
The tense exchange erupted during a query on plans to digitise personal information on the authority’s proposed digital number plates.
The confrontation began after Kotey explained that the new number plates would include Radio Frequency Identification chips as part of enhanced security features.
Osei-Asare then raised concerns about potential privacy breaches, asking whether the new plates would display surnames.
Source: Facebook
Kotey eventually clarified that names were not pit on number plates and suggested that the question was unwarranted, thus offending the chairperson.
Osei-Asare reminded that there were personalised plates that had surnames.
How did Kotey respond after the clash?
In a statement after the hearing, Kotey said he received a lot of emotional support after the incident.
The CEO of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority said he made a conscious decision to remain calm and focused.
"Your swift response, in the form of calls and messages of encouragement and motivation, was truly overwhelming."
Advice from his mother
YEN.com.gh reported that Kotey explained that he remained calm because of the advice his mother gave him when he received his appointment to lead the authority.
Kotey also said President John Mahama, who appointed him, was also a humble man whom he had learned from.
Source: YEN.com.gh
