<<Print>>

John Boadu, the general secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has confirmed that all efforts to get the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo back to the country to perform her parliamentary duties have not been successful.

He said the continued absence of the lawmaker is a worrying trend.

Speaking on Asaase Radio, Boadu said, “we’re all concerned about making sure our government runs and considering how Parliament is split in the middle, any occasion that any of the MPs is absent is a cause for worry.”

Demands
The Assin Central MP Ken Agyapong alleged that Safo is demanding for the removal of Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin before she would return to Parliament.

“If the President heeds to Adwoa Safo’s demands then I will also go to the US and demand that the President resigns before I come to Parliament,” Agyapong told Kwaku Nhyira-Addo.

However, Boadu feels the matter should be handled with tact because “there were times that Ken [Agyapong] himself was outside the country, he had planned to come two days before we needed him and he had to be rushed to come to join his colleagues.”

“…Just as Adwoa was occasionally brought in and this time I think she’s kept out far too long and all efforts to get her is proven futile, but I don’t think we’re at the end of the tunnel,” Boadu added.

Adwoa Safo took leave of absence
Meanwhile, the national chairman of the governing party Freddie Blay has disclosed that Safo took a leave of absence to address some health issues.

“I know that she [Adwoa Safo] asked for a period off to take care of some health issues and so let’s not make any hasty decisions …we must appreciate the situations she also finds herself in,” Blay told The Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday.

“It is unfortunate that Adwoa Safo’s matter is in the public domain but I will like to say that at the end of the day Parliamentary proceedings must continue; a resolution will be reached.”

Sack Adwoa Safo now
The managing editor of the Daily Dispatch, Ben Ephson, has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to allow Adwoa Safo, the MP for Dome-Kwabenya, to hold the party to ransom.

Ephson said the party should call Safo’s bluff and sack her to pave the way for a by-election