MPs failed to reach consensus on Adwoa Safo’s saga
A split decision has been delivered by the Privileges Committee of Parliament on the fate of Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo.
A consensus could not be arrived at by the Committee in its recommendations on whether absenting herself for more than the mandatory 15 days without permission warrants her seat being declared vacant.
According to a copy of the report, the Majority wants the seat declared vacant without delay in line with stated constitutional provisions.
It maintains that Sarah Adwoa Safo failed to take advantage of the numerous opportunities to explain her absence without leave.
The Majority of MPs on the committee cited Article 97 (1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution and the Court of Appeal decision in the case of Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare vrs the Attorney General & 3 Others, in this regard.
However, the Minority MPs on the committee argued that according to the principle of natural justice, the seat should not be declared vacant because Adwoa Safo did not provide her side of the issue to the committee.
Also, the committee determined that the excuse from her two other colleagues, Kennedy Agyepong and Henry Quartey for absenting themselves were reasonable.
The Report was laid in Parliament on Monday and will be debated before Parliament goes on recess on Thursday.
