Akim Swedru MP Dismisses A Plus’ Petition to Remove PAC Chair as Procedurally Flawed

MP Kennedy Osei Nyarko Says Speaker Lacks Power to Remove Abena Osei-Asare

The Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has rejected a petition filed by the MP for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng — popularly known as A Plus — seeking the removal of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson, Abena Osei-Asare. He described the petition as “dead on arrival,” arguing that it disregards the rules governing parliamentary procedure.

In a Facebook post responding to A Plus’ petition, Mr. Osei Nyarko maintained that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, does not possess the authority to remove any sitting Member of Parliament from a committee position. According to him, such decisions fall solely within the jurisdiction of the Committee of Selection and the leadership of the respective party caucuses in Parliament.

“My colleague A Plus should take his time to learn the parliamentary rules and procedures properly,” Osei Nyarko stated. “The Speaker has no powers to remove any Member of Parliament from any committee — not even the Leader of Government Business in the House can do that.”

A Plus’ petition, submitted to the Speaker on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, called for the removal of Abena Osei-Asare, who also serves as the MP for Atiwa East and was formerly a Deputy Minister of Finance. He argued that her continued chairmanship of the PAC presents a conflict of interest, given that the committee is currently probing financial issues that occurred during her tenure in the Finance Ministry.

“She cannot now turn around to demand answers from newly appointed officials on issues that happened under her own watch,” A Plus contended in his petition. He described the situation as “an insult to the intelligence of the Ghanaian people” and said her position compromises the credibility of parliamentary oversight.

The PAC is one of Parliament’s most critical accountability committees, mandated to examine reports from the Auditor-General and ensure that public funds are managed lawfully. The committee’s work is vital in a country where irregularities in public spending remain a major governance concern.

Responding to the petition, Osei Nyarko cited Standing Orders of Parliament, explaining that the Speaker does not have unilateral powers to appoint or remove Members from committees. Such authority rests with the Committee of Selection, which comprises representatives from both the Majority and Minority sides of the House.

“Only the leadership of the respective caucuses can make changes to committee memberships or chairmanships,” he noted, adding that A Plus’ petition demonstrates a misunderstanding of the legislative process.

The Akim Swedru MP further emphasized that if A Plus believes there has been any breach of conduct by Abena Osei-Asare, he should rely on the Standing Orders of Parliament to initiate formal proceedings. “If he thinks the Hon. Member has done anything unparliamentary, he should invoke the appropriate sections of the Standing Orders against her,” Osei Nyarko said. “But to call on the Speaker to remove her as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee is nothing but political bravado.”

Osei Nyarko urged A Plus to withdraw the petition to prevent what he described as potential embarrassment. “He should immediately withdraw the petition to avoid any embarrassment to himself,” the lawmaker advised, adding that all parliamentary processes must be guided by the established Standing Orders and long-held conventions.

The Standing Orders of Parliament — the body’s internal rulebook — clearly define the scope of authority for the Speaker and committee leaders. They ensure a balance of power, prevent arbitrary decisions, and protect the independence of oversight bodies such as the PAC.

Political analysts say the controversy reflects growing tension between political accountability and parliamentary procedure. In Ghana’s highly polarized environment, such petitions can easily spark partisan interpretations, particularly when they involve committees that scrutinize government spending.

The Public Accounts Committee plays a key role in safeguarding fiscal responsibility by reviewing reports from the Auditor-General. Its sessions often uncover waste, mismanagement, and unauthorized spending across government agencies. Ensuring the impartiality of its leadership is crucial to maintaining public trust in Parliament’s oversight function.

However, legal experts argue that allegations of conflict of interest must be carefully assessed within the context of parliamentary ethics rather than public sentiment. “Even if concerns are legitimate, the process for redress must follow due procedure,” one governance analyst explained. “Otherwise, the entire accountability system could become politicized.”

In recent years, similar controversies have emerged around committee leadership positions. In 2023, for instance, some Minority MPs objected to the appointment of members with prior ministerial roles to oversight committees, citing potential bias. Yet, such appointments have often been justified on the grounds of experience and institutional knowledge.

The dispute between A Plus and Osei Nyarko touches on a broader issue — the delicate balance between transparency and parliamentary autonomy. Ghana’s legislature has been under increasing pressure from civil society to strengthen accountability, particularly in the management of public funds.

While petitions and citizen-led actions are welcome in democratic governance, parliamentary insiders stress the need to respect institutional frameworks. “Oversight is effective only when Parliament operates independently but within its own rules,” one parliamentary staffer said.

As of Wednesday, there has been no official response from the Speaker’s office regarding the petition. However, parliamentary sources indicate that the matter may not proceed since the Speaker has no constitutional or procedural mandate to act on it.

The controversy over Abena Osei-Asare’s continued leadership of the Public Accounts Committee underscores the complex intersection between political accountability and parliamentary procedure in Ghana. While citizen activism remains essential to holding public officials accountable, adherence to the Standing Orders ensures that Parliament’s oversight functions remain credible, impartial, and lawful.

Read also: A Plus Petitions Speaker to Remove Abena Osei-Asare as PAC Chair Over Alleged Conflict of Interest