The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has stated that there is no animosity between him and the Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, despite their heated exchange during a committee sitting.
According to the Minister, Mrs Osei-Asare remains a friend and their disagreement during proceedings was part of their normal interactions.
The confrontation occurred on Monday, May 18, when Mr George appeared before the committee over concerns regarding alleged poor service delivery by Mobile Network Operators in Ghana.
Speaking to journalists after the sitting, Mr George said their friendship would not interfere with their official responsibilities.
“Abena is a friend, maybe that is why our exchanges were heated. We do this in our regular conversations. But the fact that we are friends does not negate the fact that the work has to be done,” he stated.
He also suggested that members of the committee were responding to the tough scrutiny he subjected former ministers of the New Patriotic Party when he previously served on the PAC.
“I know my colleagues are returning the favour for what I did for New Patriotic Party ministers when I was a member of PAC. But I’m a tough nut to crack. The next time I come, I will fire them. No hard feelings, no bad blood, I’m going to join them for lunch,” he added.
The tension reportedly arose after the Minister blamed challenges within the telecommunications sector on what he described as weak policies, poor governance and leadership failures under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
Mrs Osei-Asare, who served as a Minister of State at the Finance Ministry under the former administration, interrupted the Minister and cautioned him against making what she described as offensive comments.
She also urged him to confine his remarks to the matter under discussion.
The interruption prompted a sharp reaction from Mr George, who appealed to the Ranking Member of the committee and acting presiding officer, Samuel Atta Mills, to call the Chairperson to order.
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