3 petition CID to probe alleged 2021 impersonation of Adwoa Safo in parliament

Three Ghanaian citizens have petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate an alleged case of impersonation involving former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament Sarah Adwoa Safo, who is accused of being absent from Parliament in 2021 while someone else purportedly acted or voted on her behalf.

The petition, filed on Thursday, September 17, 2026, is the latest in a growing series of citizen complaints seeking police investigations into the conduct of public officials and former officeholders, raising fresh questions about accountability and the integrity of Ghana’s parliamentary records.

The Petition

The petitioners, whose names have not been fully disclosed, are calling on the CID to establish whether the former MP was impersonated in the Chamber of Parliament during the period in question.

According to the petitioners, there are questions surrounding the former MP’s presence in Parliament in 2021, particularly regarding whether she was physically in the Chamber when certain parliamentary business was conducted, or whether someone else acted on her behalf using her identity and privileges as a sitting MP.

They are asking the CID to invite Madam Safo to assist with investigations and to establish the facts surrounding her parliamentary attendance during the period under review.

The petitioners are also requesting that the CID obtain and examine:

· Parliamentary attendance registers and records from 2021
· Electronic voting data and division lists
· Hansard records of proceedings on dates when her presence was recorded
· Any correspondence between the former MP and parliamentary officials regarding her absence
· Travel records and immigration data to establish her whereabouts during the period

They further want investigators to speak with the Clerk of Parliament, deputy clerks, marshals, and other parliamentary staff who may have knowledge of the former MP’s presence or absence.

Background

Sarah Adwoa Safo, a lawyer by profession, served as the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya from 2013 to 2025. She held several key positions during her tenure, including Deputy Majority Leader, Minister for Procurement, and Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Her time in Parliament was marked by controversy, particularly in 2021 and 2022, when she was accused of absenteeism from Parliament and from her ministerial duties. Her prolonged absence from Ghana and from Parliament sparked national debate, with calls from various quarters for her to be sanctioned or removed from her position.

At the height of the controversy, she was referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament over her absenteeism. The committee’s proceedings became one of the most closely followed parliamentary dramas in recent memory, with debates over whether her absence constituted contempt of Parliament and whether she should forfeit her seat.

She later returned to Ghana and resumed her duties, but the issue of her attendance and participation in parliamentary proceedings remained a subject of public discussion. She did not seek re-election in the 2024 general elections, bringing her parliamentary career to an end after more than a decade.

The allegations of impersonation are believed to stem from questions raised about whether she was present in Parliament on specific occasions when her vote or presence was recorded, despite claims that she was abroad at the time. The controversy was fuelled by the narrow margins in Parliament during the period, when every vote counted and the presence or absence of a single MP could determine the outcome of critical decisions.

Legal Implications

If the allegations are substantiated, the case could raise serious constitutional and legal questions about the integrity of parliamentary proceedings and the potential misuse of a sitting MP’s identity.

Impersonation of a public officer or elected official is a criminal offence under Ghanaian law and could attract severe penalties, including imprisonment.

Under Section 205 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), a person who falsely personates another person in order to obtain a benefit or advantage commits a misdemeanour. Additionally, any attempt to falsify parliamentary records could constitute forgery under Section 158 of the Act.

Legal experts say the case could also have implications under Article 94 of the 1992 Constitution, which sets out the qualifications for membership of Parliament, and Article 97, which deals with the circumstances under which a seat becomes vacant.

The petitioners are asking the CID to investigate whether any person or persons acted on behalf of the former MP without lawful authority and whether any parliamentary records were falsified or manipulated.

Calls for Thorough Investigation

The petitioners have urged the CID to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, stressing that the matter touches on the integrity of Ghana’s democratic institutions.

“Parliament is the supreme lawmaking body of the land, and its records must reflect the truth. If someone was impersonating an elected representative, it undermines the very foundation of our democracy,” one of the petitioners said.

They have also asked the police to assess whether any parliamentary decisions taken during the period could be challenged on the grounds of irregularity if the allegations are proven.

Public Reaction

News of the petition has sparked mixed reactions among Ghanaians, with some calling for a swift investigation and others questioning the timing and motives behind the complaint.

“This is a serious allegation that goes to the heart of our democracy. If true, it means someone was impersonating an elected representative in the highest lawmaking body of the land. That cannot be tolerated,” one social media user commented.

Others questioned why the matter is only being raised now, several years after the alleged incident occurred.

“If this happened in 2021, why are we just hearing about it in 2026? What is the real motive behind this petition?” another user asked.

Some political commentators suggested the petition could be part of a broader pattern of politically motivated complaints being filed with the CID in recent weeks, while others argued that every allegation deserves to be investigated regardless of timing.

Broader Context

The petition comes amid heightened political tension in Ghana, with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) under President John Dramani Mahama facing criticism from opposition parties over various governance issues, and citizens increasingly resorting to formal complaints to demand accountability from public officials.

In recent weeks, the CID has received several high-profile petitions, including:

· A complaint against Bimbilla MP Dominic Nitiwul over alleged inflammatory comments on the Agbogbloshie redevelopment
· Petitions against government officials over the cocaine trafficking investigation involving nearly 4 tonnes of cocaine seized in France
· The current petition against Madam Safo over alleged impersonation in Parliament

The trend suggests a growing willingness among Ghanaians to use formal legal channels to seek accountability from those in power, though critics worry that some complaints may be politically motivated rather than genuinely aimed at justice.

What’s Next

The CID is expected to review the petition and determine whether there is sufficient basis to launch a formal investigation. If the case proceeds, Madam Safo may be invited to assist with investigations, and other persons of interest could also be questioned.

Under Ghanaian law, the CID has the discretion to investigate any complaint brought before it, but it must act within the bounds of the law and ensure that investigations are conducted fairly and without political interference.

Meanwhile, Madam Safo has yet to publicly respond to the petition. Attempts to reach her for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

The case is the latest in a series of petitions filed with the CID in recent weeks, highlighting a growing trend of citizens seeking police investigations into the conduct of public officials and raising important questions about accountability, the integrity of parliamentary records, and the role of law enforcement in resolving political disputes in Ghana.