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Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, has denied reports that he granted permission to embattled Sarah Adwoa Safo, to absent herself from the House on health grounds.
Addressing the House on Thursday February 24, he noted that Parliament has processes that determine whether or not an MP is present, and that he is not responsible for finding out about the availability of members.
“It’s important I diffuse some fake news, which is being circulated that I granted an interview to say that Adwoa Safo received permission from me to absent herself from Parliament on health grounds. I want it to be known by all; that I have not granted any such interview anywhere. I’ve not said anything like that anywhere.
“And the votes and proceedings of the House are so loud that if she’s absent without permission for all those days, that’s on the votes and proceedings of the House.
“It’s not the Speaker who determines who’s present and who’s absent. No. The votes and proceedings will capture those who’re present, those who’re absent and those who’re absent with permission. And so please; I’ve received a lot of calls from a number of media men on that issue,” said the Speaker.
The former MP for Kaleo Nadowli Constituency, further indicated his readiness to address the issue of MPs absenteeism in subsequent sittings.
“Please, and tomorrow, I’m going to address the issue of absentee MPs very very clearly for everybody to understand”, Alban Bagbin emphasised.
The Speaker’s comment was in connection with developments, surrounding the Dome Kwabenya MP, who has been absent from about 18 meetings commulatively.
She has been accused by colleague MPs of deliberately absenting herself to sabotage the Majority in Parliament. According to them, the MP who doubles as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection is demanding from government to be restored as Deputy Majority Leader before she presents herself in the House.
