SPEAKER DISMISSED MAJORITY SIDE OF PARL.MOTION TO DECLARE ADWOA SAFO SEAT VACANT.

It will be recalled that the Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya constituency Hon. Adwoa Safo fate to be determined  whether  to declare her seat vacant or non-vacant  by the speaker of parliament on Wednesday 26th October,2022.

But today at the  parliamentary the  Speaker of parliament Alban Bagbin  dismissed a motion filed by the majority side of parliament to declare Dome Kwabenya seat vacant based on a report to be submitted by the privilege committee .

“Quoting article 97 1(C) of the 1992 constitution the power to declare seat vacant and standing order 78 of parliament proceedings remain exclusive right of the speaker”.

Giving his ruling on the matter, the speaker said the motion by the majority leader is untenable and the motion demand parliamentary debate to decide the Adwoa Safo fate.

Meanwhile majority leader osei Kyei mensah bonsu said he disagrees with the speaker’s ruling on grounds it is unconstitutional.

According to him majority side will come with substantive motion to challenge the speakers ruling.

Sarah Adwoa Safo absented herself for more than the stipulated 15 days.

The Majority caucus wanted her seat to be declared vacant but this was opposed by the Minority, who felt she should be heard first.

The Speaker also questioned the authority of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs to declare her seat vacant.

In March, Majority leader Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu disclosed that Sarah Adwoa Safo had requested a month-long leave from the House.

Subsequently, the Speaker referred her case and that of two other MPs, namely Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso Central and Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central, to the Privileges Committee for hearing.

Speaker Bagbin, who deferred ruling on the matter before parliament went on recess, promised to do so when sitting resumes.

In a formal communication to the House on Tuesday, the Speaker noted that because there were few things to transact just after assumption, he has deferred ruling to Wednesday.

By Enock Baffoe/uniquenewsgh.com

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