BY Daniel Bampoe
Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng alias A Plus has formally petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, to initiate steps toward the removal of Abena Osei-Asare, the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), citing conflict of interest, moral inconsistency, and loss of public trust in the committee’s work.
In a letter dated 4th November, 2025 addressed to the Speaker, Asare Obeng argued that the appointment of Osei-Asare — who served as Deputy Minister of Finance under former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the Akufo-Addo administration — undermines the credibility and impartiality of one of Parliament’s most vital oversight institutions.
He claimed that the PAC’s core duty is to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of public funds, a responsibility he believes is incompatible with Osei-Asare’s past role at the Ministry of Finance during a period marked by what he described as “reckless borrowing, fiscal indiscipline, and questionable financial agreements.”
According to the Gomoa Central legislator, several contracts approved during Osei-Asare’s tenure — including the Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML) deal with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the ECG-Beijing Jao Loss Reduction Agreement, and the Service Ghana Auto Limited ambulance procurement contract — are all under active investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The MP argued that these investigations, coupled with Osei-Asare’s past public defense of GRA Commissioner-General Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah when he refused to disclose his age, cast serious doubts on her moral authority to preside over a committee that demands accountability from others.
“It is morally indefensible for, the MP for Atiwa East Constituency, 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,” the MP wrote.
“Such a situation compromises the impartiality of the Public Accounts Committee and diminishes public trust in Parliament’s oversight role.”
In his petition, Asare Obeng further accused the former deputy minister of hypocrisy, questioning how someone who “played a key role in financial irregularities” could now sit in judgment over the very same issues.
He stressed that her leadership of the PAC is “a national disgrace” and urged Parliament to restore integrity by replacing her with a more neutral figure.
In his recent, Facebook post, Asare Obeng expanded his criticism, describing Osei-Asare’s position as “an insult to the intelligence of the Ghanaian people.”
He referenced the numerous corruption-related investigations linked to her time at the Finance Ministry and argued that her current role makes a mockery of parliamentary accountability.
He also took a moral tone, invoking faith as a guiding principle for leadership:
“How can a serious nation allow someone who served under an administration that plunged the economy into chaos to question newly appointed officials? Leadership is not about boldness in questioning others — it’s about integrity and fear of God,” he said.
Asare Obeng’s comments come amid growing public scrutiny of Parliament’s oversight effectiveness and concerns about perceived partisanship in accountability processes.
His petition is expected to spark debate within the House, as it directly challenges the ethical standing of one of Parliament’s most high-profile committees.
The Public Accounts Committee has long been viewed as a pillar of the legislative accountability framework, tasked with reviewing Auditor-General reports and probing government spending.
However, if the Speaker acts on the petition, it could mark one of the most significant leadership shake-ups in recent parliamentary history, particularly given the sensitivity of the issues under investigation by the OSP.
For now, the ball is in the Speaker’s court — and the outcome will test Parliament’s commitment to upholding transparency, impartiality, and the public trust.
