Abena Osei Asare, the Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has defended her position and eligibility to lead the committee.

She maintains that her appointment fully aligns with parliamentary procedures and that her commitment to transparency and accountability remains intact.

During an appearance on Channel One TV, November 10, 2025, Osei Asare clarified that the choice of committee chairs in Parliament is not an individual decision but one made by each party’s caucus.

Her selection, she emphasised, reflects her party’s confidence in her ability to deliver effectively in that role.

She addressed public concerns about a potential conflict of interest, given her previous service as Deputy Minister of Finance.

“The Committee Chairs are selected by the parties and the leadership of the respective caucuses. And so, my caucus chose me to head the Public Accounts Committee and to serve in that capacity. It’s something I want to do, and I’m qualified to do it as well,” she said.

“I must say that there’s no conflict of interest in any way because the Public Accounts Committee is always chaired by a member from the opposition. And then, we have taken steps—when I say we, as in Parliament to curb some of these things,” she explained.

The Member of Parliament for Atiwa East added, “That is why in Order 2294 of our Standing Orders, it says that when issues or reports from the Auditor-General pertain to the year in which the chairperson was in government, proceedings will be taken over by the ranking.

“Consistently, you see me announcing that this pertains to a 2024 report for which I was in government. So, I am ceding the chairmanship role to my ranking. Because consistently, we want to promote fairness, proper accountability, and transparency. Parliament has already taken care of that.”

Abena Osei Asare breaks silence on her 'showdown' with DVLA boss at PAC sitting

Her comment follows, Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Obeng Kwame Asares’s petitioned to the Speaker of Parliament, calling for her removal as the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.

According to the MP, Abena Osei Asare is unfit to lead a committee tasked with probing financial malfeasance and infractions, as she is allegedly complicit in some of the very issues the committee is expected to investigate.

He explained that Abena Osei Asare played a pivotal role during the tenure of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, a period during which many of the financial infractions she is now probing occurred. For this reason, A-Plus urged the speaker to remove her as the Chairperson of the Committee.

“Her close association with the Ministry of Finance during the tenure of Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, a period defined by reckless borrowing, fiscal indiscipline, and multiple controversial contracts, undermines the credibility of her leadership. These include the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract, the ECG–Beijing Jao Loss Reduction agreement, and the Service Ghana Auto Limited ambulance procurement deal, all of which are currently under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

“Rt Hon Speaker, it is morally indefensible for Hon. Abena Osei Asare to preside over a committee that demands accountability from newly appointed officials on matters that occurred under her direct watch as Deputy Minister of Finance,” he stated.

A-Plus further argued that Abena Osei Asare’s continued role as Chairperson of the Committee undermines public trust in Ghana’s democracy and parliamentary proceedings.

According to him, allowing the former Deputy Minister of Finance to maintain her position is an insult to Ghanaians.

AM/SSM

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