STRANEK Africa is deeply concerned about the alleged cases of impersonation of two Members of Parliament on the majority side during the consideration of the 2022 budget.
It is alleged that Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya who doubles as the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sarah Adwoa Safo was absent due to an extension of her leave granted by the President; the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and Member of Parliament for Akuapem North Constituency, Nana Dokua Asiamah Adjei, according our research, gave birth on Saturday, 4th December, 2021 in the United States of America. Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo has come out to debunk the fact that she was absent from Parliament on the approval of the 2022 budget which the Minority side of Parliament claim to be investigating the alleged impersonation of Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo.
STRANEK-Africa has taken notice of the silence of Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and Member of Parliament for Akuapem North Constituency, Nana Dokua Asiamah Adjei who was allegedly absent at the approval of the controversial 2022 Budget but was counted as present.
STRANEK Africa is concerned because the allegations of impersonation in Parliament is something Ghanaians must take seriously. Apart from the fact that these acts are subversive and undermine our democracy it also undermines the integrity of Parliament as an institution at a time that Ghanaians are looking up to Parliament to exercise its oversight role over the Executive. If such allegations are proven to be true then it questions Parliament’s moral authority to hold the Executive and other institutions of state accountable.
What is more worrying is that Parliament as an institution has failed to make a public statement on these developments. We content that it is in the best interest of Parliament to fully investigate these allegations and publish the findings of the investigations for the general public and also bring those who may be culpable to book.
We therefore call for a full-scale investigation to determine whether Hon. Nana Dokua Asiamah Adjei was indeed in Parliament including Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo and punishment ought to be meted out to perpetrators and accomplices if the investigation vindicates the allegations.
This also justifies the need to have a biometric register for Members of Parliament because it will go a long way to mitigate the lingering issues of impersonation or feigning presence in the House.
We are all involved in building our motherland, Ghana.
Signed.
Nii Tettey Tetteh Eyram Norglo
Executive Director Deputy Director of Research