Member of Parliament for Gomoa, Hon Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A-plus, has submitted a formal petition to the Speaker of Parliament calling for the removal of Hon. Abena Osei Asare as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
In his petition, Kwame A-Plus argued that Hon. Abena Osei Asare’s previous position as Deputy Minister of Finance, along with her alleged involvement in or connections to contracts awarded during the tenure of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, presents a potential conflict of interest.
He further argued that it creates a conflict of interest and weakens the committee’s credibility.
According to Kwame A-Plus, it is morally indefensible for Abena Osei Asare to preside over a Committee that demands accountability from newly appointed officials.
The Gomoa MP’s statement read, “Rt. Hon. Speaker, I respectfully write to draw your kind attention to a matter that concerns the integrity and dignity of Parliament and the confidence that citizens repose in its oversight responsibilities.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) remains one of Parliament’s most critical instruments for ensuring transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of public funds. It is, therefore, deeply concerning that Hon. Abena Osei Asare, former Deputy Minister of Finance, now serves as the Chairperson of this important Committee”.
He further detailed, “Her close association with the Ministry of Finance during the tenure of Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta: – a period defined by reckless borrowing, fiscal indiscipline, and multiple controversial contracts- undermines the credibility of her leadership. These include the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract, the ECG-Beijing Jao Loss Reduction agreement, and the Service Ghana Auto Limited ambulance procurement deal, all of which are currently under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Furthermore, her public defence of the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, when he refused to disclose his age, raises serious doubts about her commitment to transparency and accountability.
Rt Hon. Speaker, it is morally indefensible for Hon. Abena Osei Asare to preside over a Committee that demands accountability from newly appointed officials on matters that occurred under her direct watch as Deputy Minister of Finance. Such a situation not only compromises the impartiality of the Public Accounts Committee but also diminishes public trust in Parliament’s oversight role”.
His petition added, “It is inappropriate, and indeed inconsistent with the ethical standards of parliamentary oversight, for someone so deeply tied to the very administration and financial irregularities under review to preside over hearings demanding accountability from others. Such a posture erodes public confidence and brings the image of Parliament into disrepute.
In view of the foregoing, I respectfully urge your esteemed office to take immediate steps to support the removal of Hon. Abena Osei Asare as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee to safeguard the integrity, impartiality, and moral authority of both the Committee and Parliament as an institution”.
Meanwhile, Kwame A-Plus had earlier fired shots at the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare.
According to Kwame A-Plus, what ethical framework allows Abena Osei-Asare, who served as Deputy Minister of Finance under the previous administration, to challenge others on accountability?
A Plus argued that Abena Osei Asare was not just an observer but an integral part of an administration that oversaw economic decline.
See the statement below:
