The Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo says she did not respond to the numerous allegations and attacks over her absence from Parliament because she believes silence is golden.
This follows months of backlash from party supporters and some colleague MPs over the refusal of the MP to attend Parliamentary proceedings.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on The Pulse on Thursday, the Legislator said it would have also been impossible to explain her predicament to Ghanaians.
“When people throw in stuff at you that are not true and you respond immediately, you don’t make sense to the people. That is why I have kept quiet all these months, listening to what everybody has to say.
“But what I know and what I am telling the people of Ghana is that I have issues with family that I had to take care of and that is exactly why I had to stay back,” she noted.
In February, 2022, some people, including NPP MPs accused Adwoa Safo of blackmailing the government.
New Juaben South MP, Michael Okyere Baafi, claimed that the Dome-Kwabenya MP is using her seat as a bargaining chip to frustrate government business.
“All the problems the government is facing are attributable to Adwoa Safo. Clearly, her intention and posture show that she wants to sabotage NPP,” he said in an interview on Kumasi-based Hello FM.
He revealed how they had to beg her on countless occasions to come to Parliament due to their limited numbers.
Knowing her critical role in getting government bills passed in Parliament, the New Juaben South MP said she had decided to use that to frustrate the government.
“She said she will not come to Parliament if she is not given the Deputy Majority Leader position.”
“All 136 NPP MPs are always in Parliament except for Adwoa Safo. One person cannot hold the party to ransom,” he fumed.
But touching on this, Adwoa Safo told host, Blessed Sogah, that her appearance in Parliament in December 2021, despite having family issues, shows her commitment to the party and the President.
“That is so, so untrue and I forgive anybody who goes out there to insult me because of hearsay and third party.”
“I am still committed to the party, the government and His Excellency the President and his family. I have a record of the 2012 election petition from Dome-Kwabenya and that is what landed all of us in power today.”
“I will be the last person to put that fight, that courage and that record that I have fought for into disrepute at this time.”
She further stressed that President Akufo-Addo is aware of her condition, hence, the approval of her leave request and the subsequent extension of same.
“I’ve sent a communication to the President and he is very much aware of whatever is happening to me and my family and that’s what I expect every Ghanaian to understand,” she added.
Already, the MP has been absent from official duties since August, 2021.
While she was expected to appear before the Privileges Committee on May 27 for being absent from Parliament for 15 days without the Speaker’s permission, the lawyer claims she has not been served by the Committee.
She further emphasised that she will only return to the country after she is done putting family first and resolving all issues.
“As you know, my son is unwell and has to transition to school, so I have to ensure that all that is settled before I can resume my duties and that is exactly what I am doing,” she said.
She added, “I have been doing a lot to take care of my children which the law requires and as you know here in the foreign land, I have to comply with whatever I am directed to do and until all that is sorted out, I have to do what I have to do and then I will return to my duties.”
