The Privileges Committee of Parliament has issued a summons to member for Dome-Kwabenya, Safah Adwoa Safo, to appear before it on July 6, 2022.
Chairman of the Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, issued the summons using the media after failing to directly communicate with the member.
The MP and also Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, who is currently in the United States of America, is expected to appear in person or via Zoom next month to answer queries for her absence without permission in the 1st Meeting of the 2nd Session of the 8th Parliament.
The summons was contained in a release signed by Public Affairs Director, Madam Kate Addo, for distribution to all media organizations for publication.
The release states, “This comes after all attempts to reach the Honorable Member by the Committee failed.”
The summons form part of the Committee’s work referred to it by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin, pursuant to Article 97(1)(c) of the Constitution, and Orders 15 and 16(1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, for consideration and report to the House, on the absence of the Member from Parliament for more than fifteen Sittings without permission in writing to the Speaker, during the First Meeting of the Second Session of the 8th Parliament.
It would be recalled that Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo failed to appear before the Committee of Privileges when two other MPs including the MP for Assin North, Kennedy Ohene Adjapong; and MP for Ayawaso Central, Henry Quartey, were cited for breach of the Standing Orders of Parliament and the Constitution of Ghana for absenting themselves without permission for more than 15 sitting days.
The MP for Dome Kwabenya, during media interviews, claimed no official invitation was extended to her to appear before the Committee at the time.
The release indicated that all efforts have been made to reach out to the MP on all channels available including her personal office in Parliament; her Ministry where she has not been active as a Minister for some time now; all her known email addresses; her pigeon hole in Parliament for receipt of official and unofficial messages; as well as through her Research Assistant; and all her known social media handles.