The Director of Legal Affairs of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abraham Amaliba has faulted President Akufo- Addo for allowing the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya to still stay in office as the Minister in charge of Gender, Children and Social Protection despite her prolonged stay in the US.
The Dome-Kwabenya MP has received massive backlash from many Ghanaians including some members of the government for her long absence from Parliament. The Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, has been absent from the ministry and Parliament since August 2021. She attributed her long absence to family issues.
Adwoa Safo also failed to appear before Parliament’s Privileges Committee to explain her absence from Parliament for more than 15 sittings, without permission in writing to the Speaker of Parliament.
But, Mr. Amaliba speaking on Day Break Upper East Show on A1 Radio today June 21, 2022, said the President should be blamed for Adwoa Safo’s situation. Mr. Amaliba said President Akufo-Addo would have fired Adwoa Safo from the Gender ministry if he was up to his task.
“Are we worried as a nation that Adwoa Safo is not at post? If the answer is yes, whom do you blame for this; the President. The President if he was up to his task would be the one to have fired Adwoa Safo. He appoints and he disappoints. The reason why the President has not done that we don’t know.”
According to Mr. Amaliba, Adwoa Safo’s reason for her absence would have led to her being taken out of the office for her to concentrate on her family.
“Adwoa Safo has told us clearly that her problem has to do with a domestic issue. In very serious democracies this would have led to her being removed from office so she can concentrate on her domestic issues rather we have a President who is not interested in dealing with the matter. So the whole issue is at the doorstep of the President.”
He however did not blame her bearing in mind the reason for her absence. Mr. Amaliba said nobody would have left his/her family to continue official duties in this circumstance.
“It is for the appointing Authority to then say that because of this problem, can you step aside so that we can then appoint somebody to take your place,” he added.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Osuman Kaapore Tahiru|Ghana
