The Vice Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Davis Opoku Ansah, has criticised the petition filed against the PAC Chairperson, Abena Osei-Asare, which requested support for her removal.

According to him, the calls for the committee chairs to be removed do not comply with the law and go against proper principles and norms.

Speaker has no powers to remove any MP from a committee – NPP MP 'schools' A Plus

In his view, the appointment of Osei-Asare was lawful as it followed the legal and official procedures.

He cited Article 93(2) of the 1992 Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament to support his statement, adding that there was no wrongdoing in her appointment.

“My colleague’s call for the removal of Hon Abena Osei-Asare as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee is deeply misguided, both in law and in principle. Under Article 93(2) of the 1992 Constitution, Parliament exercises full legislative and oversight authority as a coordinate arm of government, not a subordinate one.

“Our Standing Orders, particularly Orders 204 to 211, make it clear that committee chairpersons are appointed by the Committee of Selection, chaired by the Speaker and approved by the House. Hon Abena Osei-Asare’s appointment followed this exact process,” he explained in a Facebook post on November 4, 2025.

Opoku Ansah, also the Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, continued his argument that the committee itself is mandated by law to hold institutions accountable.

He insisted that the committee officials are present only as representatives of the state, and not necessarily as the individuals who committed the infractions they are auditing.

“The Public Accounts Committee, as provided under Article 187(5) of the Constitution and Order 229 of our Standing Orders, examines the Auditor-General’s reports to ensure accountability in the use of public funds. Government is a continuum, and current officials appear before the Committee not because they caused past irregularities, but because they represent the state institutions that must account for them.

Breakdown of A Plus' petition to Speaker

“In fact, the Standing Orders already provide that when the party of the Chairperson is in government, the Ranking Member presides over the proceedings. That is how Parliament ensures impartial oversight, not by removing a duly appointed Chairperson. Hon Abena Osei-Asare sits in that position as a Member of Parliament, selected by the Committee of Selection and approved by the House. The Standing Orders contain no rule that disqualifies her,” he added.

MAG/AE

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