An aide to the Member of Parliament representing the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Seth Osei Kissi, has revealed distressing circumstances that led to the MP, Adwoa Safo's prolonged absence from Parliament several months ago.

According to Mr. Kissi, who also holds the position of Director at the National Disaster Management Organisation for the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Adwoa Safo faced a series of devastating setbacks since 2020, compelling her to take a much-needed hiatus from her duties as a legislator and gender minister.

Recalling the traumatic events, Mr. Kissi disclosed, "In the lead-up to the 2020 elections, we learned that Hon Adwoa Safo was expecting a child. Tragically, she experienced a stillbirth after giving birth. It's an emotionally devastating situation, and she may have even lost her life if not for divine intervention."

However, Adwoa Safo's trials did not end there. In the midst of coping with the emotional turmoil of her stillbirth, she received a heartbreaking call from the United States regarding one of her children. She has both a son and a daughter residing in the US, and the call delivered distressing news about her son's severe illness, which threatened to result in permanent disability. In response, she promptly journeyed abroad to be with her ailing son. Nonetheless, upon her arrival, she was confronted with another heart-wrenching challenge—an alarming possibility of losing custody of her children.

"Imagine enduring a stillbirth, nearly losing your life, and then being informed that your child is gravely ill, with the potential for a life-altering disability. To add to the distress, there were threats of losing custody of your children. How does one summon the strength to navigate such an overwhelming ordeal?" Mr. Kissi emotionally recounted during an interview with Top FM.

Adwoa Safo, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, publicly extended heartfelt apologies on Thursday, September 14, to the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), specifically addressing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and other party officials.

In her statement, she attributed her extended absence from Parliament, during which her seat remained unoccupied, to personal and family issues. Her absence had ignited controversies, leading to challenges for the ruling party in securing the necessary numbers for voting on crucial bills in Parliament. This upheaval resulted in Adwoa Safo facing substantial criticism, including calls for her removal as a minister and demands for her seat to be declared vacant.

Despite subsequently relinquishing her ministerial position, Adwoa Safo has triumphantly returned to Parliament after several months and has announced her intention to seek re-election in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Acknowledging that Adwoa Safo had been overwhelmed by the gravity of her personal challenges, Mr. Kissi also noted that her failure to effectively communicate her situation to Ghanaians in a timely manner had contributed to the public outcry she currently faces. Nevertheless, Mr. Kissi expressed his belief that Adwoa Safo's recent apology marked a positive step, and he appealed to Ghanaians, her party members, and constituents to empathize with her plight and extend their forgiveness.