I Have Not Granted Adwoa Safo Permission To Be Absent From Parliament – Alban Bagbin

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has denied reports that he gave Dome Kwabenya MP, Adwoa Safo, permission to be absent from parliament due to ill-health.

“It is being alleged that I granted an interview to say that Adwoa Safo received permission from me to absent herself from Parliament on health grounds. I want it to be known by all that I have not granted any such interview anywhere. I have not said anything like that anywhere. It is not the Speaker who determines who is present and who is absent.”

“The goals and proceedings of the House are so loud that she is absent without permission for all those days. That is on the face of the proceedings of the House. It is not the Speaker who determines who is present and who is absent. The goals and proceeding will capture those who are present, those who are absent, and those who are absent with permission,” Mr. Bagbin explained on the Floor of the House on Thursday.

Adwoa Safo has come under heavy criticism especially from her own party for her absence in parliament.

The MP has allegedly absented herself from parliament for more than 15 days without permission which is against the rules and such infringement can lead to the loss of her seat.

Some leading members of government like Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, has accused Ms Safo of holding the party to ransom.

The Majority in parliament need all members in parliament to pass the e-levy which the minority has taken an entrenched position to vote against.

With a hung parliament, the majority will need Ms Safo’s vote to have any chance of passing the e-levy.

Mr Agyapong alleged that Ms Safo wants to be made the Deputy Majority leader before she comes to the house to participate in parliamentary proceedings and the eventual vote on the e-levy.