Alban Sumana Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has debunked reports that Dome Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, received approval from him to absent herself from the House, on health grounds.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, he made it clear that no such thing has happened and that the reports are false, urging the public to dismiss the reports.
According to Mr Bagbin, Parliament has its own mechanisms to determine whether an MP is present or absent; which doesn’t fall under his jurisdiction.
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He, therefore, indicated his readiness to address the issue of MPs absenteeism in subsequent sittings.
“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.
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“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.
“And that’s why I don’t want to delay in letting the world know that I have not said any such thing anywhere. Please. And tomorrow, I’m going to address the issue of absentee MPs very very clearly for everybody to understand,” Alban Bagbin emphasised.
The clarification by the Speaker was in connection with a series of developments, surrounding the Dome Kwabenya MP, who was last seen in Parliament on December 1, 2021.
