Majority Leader Clashes With Speaker Alban Bagbin Over Decision To Let All MPs Vote On Adwoa Safo's Fate

• Speaker Alban Bagbin and Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu disagreed on Wednesday over the best way to decide the fate of Sarah Adwoa Safo
• Adwoa Safo has breached Parliament's rules on absenteeism and the Privileges Committee has recommended that her seat be declared vacant and a by-election held to elect a new MP for Dome-Kwabenya
• However, while Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu wants the committee's recommendation to be followed the Speaker ruled that the best thing to do is to put it to a vote in Parliament

A war of words ensued between Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.

The clash was triggered by disagreements between the two politicians over how to decide the fate of absentee Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo.

Read also

Adwoa Safo handed another lifeline by Speaker as he rules for all MPs to determine her fate

The Speaker decided on Wednesday that the Privileges Committee report on the MP was not final and that it must brought to the House for all parliamentarians to vote on whether to declare her seat vacant or not.

But Majority Leader rejected the decision by the Speaker of Parliament on the fate of Dome-Kwabenya legislator, Sarah Adwoa Safo.

The Privileges Committee recommended that the Dome-Kwabenya MP’s seat should be declared vacant for blatantly breaching Parliament’s rules on absenteeism.

“It is for the House to go through it because the mandate given to an MP, representation, is so crucial that it cannot be left to the subjective view of any person or group of people but the whole House,” Speaker Bagbin delivered his anticipated ruling on the matter.

Read also

NPP MPs’ ‘sack Ofori-Atta’ demand saved Ghana from a coup detat – Nyaho-Tamakloe

However, in a quick reaction the Majority Leader said the Speaker has erred in his ruling.

Although the seat belongs to the Majority side, they want her out. Adwoa Safo has been accused of breaking ranks with her governing party and failing to push through government businesses that needed the votes of Majority MPs.

“I am expressing my discomfort with this unfortunate ruling that you have made. I totally disagree,” he told the Speaker.

He said the ruling does not sit with the Constitution and with the Speaker’s own earlier statements on the matter.

“Very inconsistent,” he fumed.

The Speaker hit back at the MP for Suame for the remarks that sought to question his ruling and for the umpteenth time, and the two disagreed bitterly in Parliament.

The Speaker compelled the MP to retract his comments, albeit reluctantly.

But when the MP spoke to the press later, he stood his ground on his views that the Speaker erred in his understanding of the Constitution.

Read also

Martin Kpebu: Private Legal Practitioner to lead massive 'Kume Preko' Demo; demands Akufo-Addo's resignation

He vowed to take firm steps to reverse the Speaker’s ruling.

NPP MPs’ Demand For Ofori-Atta’s Dismissal Saved Ghana From An Upcoming Coup D'état – Nyaho-Tamakloe

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh has reported in a separate story that Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a top member of the NPP, has said a coup was foiled when NPP MPs rose against Ken Ofori-Atta's stay in office.

The statesman said the unprecedented decision by the Majority MPs saved Ghana's Fourth Republic.

He also advised the MPs to stand firm against any attempt by president Nana Akufo-Addo to get them to change their minds.

Source: YEN.com.gh