I’m back; it feels good to return to Parliament – Adwoa Safo

Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament Sarah Adwoa Safo has said she feels good to be back to work in Parliament after years of no show in the House.

She told journalists in Parliament on Friday November 11 when asked how she feels being present in the House again that “It feels good.”

“I want to greet all my constituents and tell them that as their Member of Parliament I’m back by the grace of God,” she added.

Priori to her presence in the House on Friday November 11, she had been for almost a year

Having been outside the country for months, the legislator made an appearance at the Ebenezer Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Dome-CFC.

Hopes were high that she would finally go to work (Parliamentary proceedings) on Tuesday November 8 but proceedings  started 11:38 yet the MP was not in the chamber yet.

The Speaker of Parliament earlier ruled that Parliament will debate on the report for her removal or otherwise.

Delivering his ruling in Parliament on Wednesday October 26, Speaker Bagbin said “The house is well within its right to receive and consider the report from the committee and make a determination.

“It is my ruling that motion be was rightfully admitted.”

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 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 the assumption, he deferred the ruling to Wednesday.