Mpraeso Member of Parliament (MP), Davis Opoku Ansah, has described as insulting, comments by Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, that she will resume her duties as an MP and a Minister when her son is fit and healthy.

According to him, the medical condition of her son should not be the reason for her to abandon her duties for over five months.

Mr. Davis Opoku Ansah said although he was seriously sick, he had to forfeit medical care for parliamentary duties.

“For you to say that your son is sick is an unfortunate comment to make. If her son is sick, she can bring him to seek medical treatment in Ghana, or does she no longer trust Ghana's hospitals? For me, I think Adwoa Safo has taken our party for granted and something must be done about it,” he fumed.

Madam Safo on Thursday said she will only resume her duties as an MP and a Minister when her son is fit and healthy.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/i-will-return-when-issues-with-family-are-resolved-adwoa-safo/

In an exclusive interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse, the Gender Minister said currently, she is taking care of her unwell son in the United States and has to ensure all is settled before she returns to the country.

But speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, the MP cited his colleague, the Ahanta West MP, Ebenezer Kojo Kum, who was in Parliament to give the Majority side the numbers for the passage of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy).

“I feel she is the cause of all the problems the Majority is having in parliament because at a point when we needed the numbers, an NPP MP was ready to come to parliament irrespective of his medical condition but if she was around, I’m not sure we would have had all these problems,” he lamented.

Akufo-Addo extends Adwoa Safo's leave from office

On October 6, 2021, President Akufo-Addo extended the leave of absence from office for the Gender Minister.

The Dome-Kwabenya MP’s leave, which she sought for personal reasons, was supposed to have ended on August 31, 2021.

However, the former Procurement Minister could not resume and requested an extension. It did not, however, state when she will resume.

“In her absence, and until further notice, President Akufo-Addo has directed the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, to act as caretaker Minister,” the Presidency said.

Earlier this year, the lawmaker came under fire for neglecting her Parliamentary duties amid speculations that she has vowed not to return until she is given a leadership role in the House.

Madam Safo was last seen in Parliament in December 2021 when she appeared in the House to dismiss claims by the Minority Caucus that she was impersonated.

She has since not returned to the Chamber. Her action has infuriated her colleagues, who have accused her of blackmailing government with a list of demands, including the Deputy Majority Leader post.

This has infuriated some colleague MPs and members of the NPP who are calling for her removal.

She is not part of us - Joseph Osei-Owusu on Adwoa Safo

Meanwhile, the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has indicated that the Majority Caucus does not factor Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo into its deliberations.

According to the Bekwai MP, all avenues to get the absentee MP to return to the House have proven futile.

As a result, the Majority in Parliament has resolved to conduct parliamentary business, going forward, without recourse to the Dome-Kwabenya MP.

Speaking on Kumasi-based Pure FM, Mr Osei-Owusu said, “in our strategy, we have taken it as going to rescue a kidnapped person, you presume she is dead, but if you go and she is alive, then it is God’s grace, and it adds to your gains, so that is our approach.

“So, as it stands now, we don’t count her as part of us,” he stated.

NPP on Adwoa Safo

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership has admitted that the Dome-Kwabenya MP’s absence has affected the party and government business.

John Boadu, the party’s General Secretary, told Joy FM that with Ghana’s hung Parliament, the Gender Minister’s absence is adversely affecting government’s business in Parliament.

He also mentioned that the party is currently considering measures, including triggering the constitutional provision to remove her as MP and declare her seat vacant.

To date, the legislator has not been seen in Parliament; neither has she visited the Ministry which she leads.