Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has urged his colleague, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, to study the rules of parliamentary procedure before demanding the removal of Abena Osei-Asare as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
In a Facebook post, the Akim Swedru MP described A Plus’ petition to Speaker Alban Bagbin as “dead on arrival,” explaining that the Speaker lacks the power to remove any Member of Parliament from a committee position.
“My colleague A Plus should take his time to learn the parliamentary rules and procedures properly. He should know and understand that 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,” Mr. Osei Nyarko stated.
He further clarified that changes to parliamentary committees can only be initiated by the leadership of the caucuses through the Committee of Selection, not directly by the Speaker.
“If he thinks the Hon. Member has done anything unparliamentary, he should invoke the appropriate sections of the Standing Orders against her,” he advised. “But to call on the Speaker to remove her as chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee is nothing but political bravado.”
Mr. Osei Nyarko also advised A Plus to withdraw the petition immediately “to avoid any embarrassment to himself.”
A Plus, a musician-turned-politician and now a Member of Parliament, recently petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to remove Abena Osei-Asare as PAC Chair, alleging conflicts of interest and misconduct.
