He reiterated that Ms Safo’s absenteeism in Parliament would not augur well for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during parliamentary proceedings.

Reacting to the MP for Assin Central in the Central Region, Kennedy Agyepong’s allegations that, Ms Safo was asking to be made the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament before she comes to Parliament, Mr Mpiani questioned her seeming sense of entitlement in that regard.

“It is the side that decides who to be the leader, who should be the Deputy Leader so if the Majority Caucus, I believe in consultation with the hierarchy of the party has decided that one of them should be a Deputy Leader, no member of the House can say, give me this position and on what basis are you asking that the position be given to you since that is the decision of the Majority Caucus in consultation with the party.

“So if the Majority Caucus have taken the decision, why should they remove the person who is there and give his position to you? What special qualification do you have so that you think you must be made the Deputy Leader? I do not know it is true, but I hope it is not true because Adwoa Safo was the Deputy Majority Leader.

“It was the decision of the party at that time she should be the Deputy Majority Leader but with this hung Parliament, they say no she cannot be the Deputy Majority Leader and fortunately for her, the president has made her a Minister of State and how can you say give this position to me by all means? Is there any special reason why she should be made the Deputy Majority Leader? I do not know,” Mr Mpiani postulated.

He questioned why the party should be entertaining such an issue and was finding it difficult to apprehend however, indicated that since he was not fully aware of the circumstances resulting in Ms Safo’s absenteeism, his comments on her alleged demands could not be conclusive.

Mr Mpiani urged the Majority in Parliament, and the leadership of the NPP to delve into the root of the problem, and deal with the issues decisively and advised the MPs on both sides of the House to build consensus, in order to make parliamentary business smoother.

Recounting his experience as a legislator in 1979, he noted that there was a need for the cooperation given the number of MPs on both sides of the House.