Minister for Gender, Children and Social protection, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has been sacked from her role by President Akufo-Addo.
A statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, said the President in accordance with article 81 (a) of the Constitution revoked the appointment of Adwoa Safo, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya.
The decision by the President, comes at a time when Parliament is debating her continuous stay in the house after absenting herself for more than 15 sitting days without approval from the Speaker of Parliament.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, earlier yesterday, deferred his ruling on Adwoa Safo, who has been cited for absenteeism.
At stake was whether the Dome Kwabenya seat, would have been declared vacant after Adwoa Safo, did not honour her summons by the Privileges Committee, which considered her absenteeism.
Speaking after a debate on the report by the Privileges Committee, Mr Bagbin, said he needed time to submit a written ruling.
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, will continue to act as caretaker minister for the Gender Ministry until a substantive Minister is named by the President.
At stake was whether the Dome Kwabenya seat would have been declared vacant after Adwoa Safo, did not honour her summons by the Privileges Committee, which considered her absenteeism.
Speaking after a debate on the report by the Privileges Committee, Mr Bagbin, said he needed time to submit a written ruling.
“I cannot in the haste of today give you a ruling,” he said.
Under the circumstances, Mr Bagbin, said there was a need to suspend sitting.
“On return [from recess], I will deliver the written ruling,” Mr Bagbin assured.
During the debate, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, tried to block the decision on a report by Privileges Committee.
He argued that the report was tabled to provide information and for the plenary to take a decision on it.
In his argument, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the committee’s report should not have been advertised as a motion which would require a determination.
On the Minority side, Mahama Ayariga, the Bawku Central MP, argued that Parliament, should have debated the motion because of the gravity of the matter at hand.
The Privileges Committee, had delivered a split decision on the fate of Adwoa Safo, who has been absent and out of Ghana beyond the mandatory 15 sittings without permission.
According to a copy of the report, the Majority, wants the seat declared vacant while the Minority jumped to the defence of the absentee MP, saying she still needed to be given a chance to explain herself.
The Majority 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 v the Attorney General & 3 Ors, in this regard.
The committee, however, determined that the excuse from her two other colleagues, Kennedy Agyepong and Henry Quartey for absenting themselves were reasonable.
Parliament watchdog Odekro’s analysis pegs Sarah Adwoa Safo’s absence at 40 missed sittings.
Speaking to Joy News from the US, back in May, she attributed her long absence from Parliament to family issues, saying, among others, that her son was unwell.
Sarah Adwoa Safo, also accused some Minority MPs and a number of her colleague Majority MPs, of engaging in a political witch hunt with her as the target.
