Residents of Dome-Kwabenya and its environs have reacted to a claim by the Member of Parliament for the area, Sarah Adwoa Safo, suggesting that they have forgiven her for past mistakes.
Recall that Adwoa Safo for a long period took leave from official duties. She cited “personal reasons” for her absence form her Ministerial role. However, some Members of Parliament claimed she did not inform the house of her absence; a situation that resulted in a bad blood between some members of the Majority in Parliament, including Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu.
She eventually appeared after her long absence to continue with her Parliamentary duties despite being dismissed as the Gender Minister by President Akufo-Addo. Some agitated residents and executives of the New Patriotic Patriotic Party vowed to unseat her, a decision some later said they had rescinded.
Fast forward, in a media engagement during the NPP Parliamentary vetting, Adwoa said her constituents had forgiven her.
The Independent Ghana spoke with some residents to ascertain the views of the residents on the matter.
Contrary to the MP’s claim, some residents said they have not forgiven her.
“We haven’t forgiven her,” a trader at the Dome market, Gifty Quayson said. “Dust is killing us here. We are being driven away by authorities at the market. They always come here for money from us even when we have sold nothing for the day. We pay for tickets. We are really suffering here,” Gifty added.
They lament bad roads, poor living conditions, among others, citing these as reasons for not forgiving the incumbent Member of Parliament.
“Who said we have forgiven her?” a motorcyclist at Dome said.
“Is an apology what is going to make our lives better? She deserted us for so long, then when it got to time to vote, she’s come back, for what? We haven’t forgiven her because our living conditions have not improved,” Nana Poku said.
Some residents on the other hand noted that despite Adwoa Safo’s sins, they have forgiven her.
“Once she’s asked for forgiveness, I have forgiven her. We voted for her to work for us but if due to circumstances beyond her control, she couldn’t do her work, why should I hold any grudge against her?” Kwame Nkrumah, a resident said.