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The Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has called on his colleague, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, to withdraw his petition demanding the removal of Abena Osei-Asare as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Describing the move as “ill-informed and potentially embarrassing,” Mr. Osei Nyarko said the petition was based on a misunderstanding of parliamentary procedures.
A Plus, who represents the Gomoa Central Constituency, had earlier filed a petition with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, seeking the removal of Abena Osei-Asare on grounds of conflict of interest, arguing that many of the issues before the PAC originated during her time as Deputy Minister of Finance.
In response, the Akim Swedru MP stated in a Facebook post that the Speaker has no authority to remove a Member of Parliament from a committee. “My colleague A Plus should take his time to learn the parliamentary rules and procedures properly,” he wrote. “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 explained that any changes to committee leadership or membership must be made by the leadership of the caucuses through the Committee of Selection, not by direct intervention from the Speaker.
“His petition to the Speaker to remove Hon. Abena Osei-Asare is dead on arrival,” Mr. Osei Nyarko asserted, advising A Plus to withdraw the petition “to avoid any embarrassment to himself.”
He further suggested that if A Plus believed the PAC Chair had breached parliamentary conduct, he should use the appropriate channels outlined in the Standing Orders rather than seeking the Speaker’s intervention.
Mr. Osei Nyarko concluded by emphasizing the need to uphold parliamentary decorum, warning against what he described as “political bravado” that could undermine the credibility and dignity of Parliament.
