Kennedy Osei Nyarko, the Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, has told the Gomoa Central MP Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, that his petition against Abena Osei-Asare is dead on arrival.
The Akim Swedru MP advised A Plus to withdraw his petition seeking the removal of Abena Osei-Asare as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
According to Kennedy Osei Nyarko, A Plus should take his time and learn the parliamentary rules and procedures properly.
He schooled Kwame A-Plus that the Speaker has no powers to remove any Member of Parliament from any committee, adding that only the leadership of the caucuses, through the Committee of Selection, can make changes to committee leadership.
In a Facebook post responding to A Plus’ petition, Kennedy Osei Nyarko wrote, “My colleague A Plus should take his time to learn the parliamentary rules and procedures properly”.
“He should know and understand that the Speaker has no powers to remove any Member of Parliament from any committee — not even the Leader of Government Business in the House has such powers.”
He added, “His petition to the Speaker to remove Hon. Abena Osei-Asare is dead on arrival.”
Hon Osei Nyarko further urged A Plus to immediately withdraw the request “to avoid any embarrassment to himself.”
His remarks follow A-plus submitting 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, “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”.
See the statement below:
