The Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Obeng Asare, popularly known as A Plus, has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, to remove Hon. Abena Osei Asare as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
According to A Plus, the move is necessary to “protect the integrity and dignity of Parliament,” particularly the committee responsible for ensuring accountability in the use of public funds.
He argues that Hon. Abena Osei Asare’s continued leadership of the Committee presents a conflict of interest, as many of the issues currently before the PAC relate to financial infractions that occurred during her tenure as Deputy Minister of Finance.
“All the matters currently before the Public Accounts Committee occurred under the leadership of Abena Osei Asare when she served as Deputy Minister of Finance,” A Plus stated in his petition. “She cannot now turn around to demand answers from newly appointed officials on issues that happened under her own watch.”
He further described the situation as “not just hypocrisy, but an insult to the intelligence of the Ghanaian people,” adding that Parliament must not allow those who presided over financial irregularities to sit in judgment over them.
The Speaker of Parliament has yet to respond publicly to the petition.
Hon. Abena Osei Asare, the Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, was appointed Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee earlier this year.
