The Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, has filed a petition requesting the support of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for the removal of Abena Osei-Asare as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

A Plus, as he is affectionately known, highlighted a number of issues he believes occurred during Abena Osei-Asare’s tenure as Deputy Minister of Finance, adding that certain financial infractions and irregularities took place during that period.

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This GhanaWeb article breaks down the issues raised by the lawmaker;

PAC Chair’s close association with Finance Ministry

A Plus said that Osei-Asare, having served in the past administration of the Ministry of Finance as deputy minister under the leadership of former minister Ken Ofori-Atta, cannot be overlooked.

According to him, the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract was signed under the previous leadership, and he added that Osei-Asare played a key role.

A Plus also cited the ECG-Beijing Jao Loss Reduction agreement and the Service Ghana Auto Limited ambulance procurement deal to support his claims.

He indicated that all of the deals are currently under investigation.

“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),” he said.

Osei-Asare’s defense of former GRA boss

The petition also cited the issue of the current PAC Chairperson coming to the defense of the then Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, who, together with Osei-Asare, had appeared before the PAC.

A committee member, Samuel Nartey George, sought clarity on the age of the former GRA boss, as he was reportedly around the mandatory retirement age at the time.

However, Osei-Asare defended Owusu-Amoah, who had refused to disclose his age despite instructions from the then PAC Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, to answer the question posed by Sam George.

“Furthermore, her public defense of the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Rev Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, when he refused to disclose his age, raises serious doubts about her commitment to transparency and accountability.”

Sack Abena Osei Asare as PAC chair - A Plus officially petitions speaker

A Plus, in his submissions, argued that the issues raised and Abena Osei-Asare’s continued role as Chairperson of the Committee undermine public trust in Ghana’s democracy and parliamentary proceedings.

MAG/VPO

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