Three persons are demanding the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to probe the alleged impersonation of former Dome-Kwabenya lawmaker, Sarah Adwoa Safo, in Parliament, arguing the lingering claims undermine Ghana’s democracy.
Emmanuel Kotin, Godwin Ebo Buckman and Dr Ramzy Innusah, have petitioned the Police CID to establish the true identity of the person seen in Parliament during the approval of the 2022 Budget in November 2021.
One of the petitioners, Ebo Buckman, speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, explained the need for the petition to bring closure on the matter.
“Since the allegation started coming out, every now and then, this issue comes up for public discussion so it is important this is settled once and for all,” he stated.
He argued that the matter keeps recurring “because it is an issue that borders on the integrity of our democracy itself, Parliament and even the integrity of the leadership of NPP, Adwoa Safo and all those that are connected,” stressing on the need to “deal with this once and for all.”
Buckman said they escalated the matter to a formal investigation because, despite Adwoa Safo’s denials, the public still have doubts which they believe the requisite security agencies have the tools to verify from parliamentary footage and records.
He said they felt it was prudent “to escalate it from a level of allegation to a level of investigation to be able to ascertain whether the lady in the video was Adwoa Safo or not.”
The controversy dates back to 2021 when Adwoa Safo, who was also the then Minister of Gender, sought leave of absence from Parliament for personal reasons.
President William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo extended her leave in October 2021 and directed the then Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, to act as caretaker.
The Budget had earlier been rejected on November 27 after the then Minority walked out, before being reversed three days later on November 30 in a sitting where a masked MP believed to be Adwoa Safo was captured on Parliament’s YouTube channel.
Then on March 29, 2022, the E-Levy Bill itself was passed by Majority after the Minority walked out. Adwoa Safo’s presence was crucial to form quorum. She later told Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen that she was present on the E-Levy day but deliberately abstained because she believed the levy would burden citizens.
That claim triggered fresh debate, with analysts arguing a voice vote does not allow abstention, deepening calls for a probe.
But, Buckman said despite her denial, many Ghanaians still have doubts. “With passage of time, we still want to believe that the security agencies still have what it takes to be able to unravel the truth or otherwise about this whole issue,” he stated.
He said if it is established that the lady was not Adwoa Safo, the law should take its course.
“…if we are able to establish that indeed the lady in that video is not Adwoa Safo, then what has to be done according to law, would be done. If on the other hand, it happens that the lady was Adwoa Safo, then the matter can be put to rest,” he stated.
Three petition CID over alleged impersonation of Adwoa Safo in Parliament
