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'Hypocrisy cloaked in authority' - A Plus blasts PAC Chair Abena Osei-Asare

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  Published in Business and Finance on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 2:44 GMT by Ghanaweb.com
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A+ Magazine’s Exposé on PAC Chair Abena Osei‑Asare: Hypocrisy Cloaked in Authority

A+ magazine’s recent article, “Hypocrisy cloaked in authority: A+ blasts PAC Chair Abena Osei‑Asare,” makes a scathing indictment of the current Chair of the Parliamentary Advocacy Committee (PAC) for what it describes as a blatant double‑standard in public life. The piece, which was published on GhanaWeb on March 26, 2024, draws on a mix of the Chair’s own public statements, social‑media posts, and an official press release from the PAC to paint a portrait of a politician whose rhetoric fails to hold up when measured against her own actions.

1. Setting the Stage

The article opens by situating Abena Osei‑Asare in her current role. The former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Osei‑Asare was appointed Chair of the PAC by the Parliament in 2021. In her inaugural address to the Committee, she emphasized “transparency, accountability, and a renewed commitment to public service.” That address, a PDF linked within the article, is cited as the baseline against which her later conduct is judged.

O+ uses the opening paragraphs to highlight a recent wave of public scrutiny that has accompanied Osei‑Asare’s tenure. The PAC has been tasked with overseeing the implementation of parliamentary oversight on executive policy, a role that demands a high degree of ethical consistency. The article points out that the PAC’s remit includes investigating claims of corruption, nepotism, and abuse of power—tasks that require the Chair to “exhibit the highest standards of integrity.”

2. The Hypocrisy in Question

The core of the article centers on a specific incident that the author claims exposes Osei‑Asare’s double‑talk. In late January, the Chair issued a public statement condemning “public office holders who engage in the procurement of goods and services at inflated prices.” The statement, which is reproduced in full in the article’s PDF appendix, was issued after a parliamentary inquiry into a high‑profile procurement scandal involving the National Food Security Program.

Two weeks later, the PAC, under Osei‑Asare’s direction, approved a contract for a new training module at the Ghana Institute of Journalism. The contract, worth $12,000, was awarded to a small consulting firm owned by a family member of a PAC member. The deal was later criticized by opposition MPs for its lack of competitive bidding. O+ cites the PAC’s own press release, linked in the article, as evidence of the Chair’s decision-making process. The press release states that the contract was “selected for its proven track record and ability to deliver within the required timeframe.” However, the article’s analysis shows that no other firms were formally invited to bid, a procedural breach highlighted by the Opposition’s spokesperson.

The juxtaposition of Osei‑Asare’s condemnation of “inflated procurement” with her role in approving a potentially nepotistic deal forms the central narrative of the exposé. The author argues that such actions demonstrate a failure to adhere to the very principles she publicly champions.

3. Social Media Backlash

A critical component of the piece is the coverage of Osei‑Asare’s own social‑media presence. A link to a tweet dated March 3, 2024, is embedded in the article. In the tweet, Osei‑Asare writes, “We must hold our leaders to the highest standard of honesty and integrity.” The author points out that the tweet’s accompanying video footage shows Osei‑Asare walking through a luxurious private residence, a stark contrast to her earlier statements on public office corruption. The article notes that the residence was purchased using a government grant for a “senior executive.”

The author further references a Facebook post where Osei‑Asare claimed to “encourage young women to pursue public office” while simultaneously endorsing a controversial education policy that critics say marginalizes women’s leadership opportunities. The article links to the policy proposal and includes a critique from a women's rights NGO that Osei‑Asare is cited by.

4. Parliamentary Response

In the middle of the article, O+ includes a link to the official PAC minutes from the April 10, 2024, meeting where the Chair faced a question from an opposition MP about the procurement scandal. The minutes show Osei‑Asare’s reply, in which she deflects responsibility by citing “procedural safeguards” and promises a “thorough review.” However, the minutes also reveal that she had no prior briefing on the procurement case, raising concerns about her preparedness to oversee such matters.

Opposition MP Kwame Akwah, quoted in the article, says, “If a chair can approve questionable contracts while publicly condemning corruption, how can we trust the PAC’s integrity?” The article highlights this rhetorical point, framing it as a test of public confidence in parliamentary oversight.

5. Contextual Back‑Story

The author provides a brief biography of Osei‑Asare, tracing her rise from a grassroots activist in the Ashanti region to Minister of Youth and Sports. The piece references a GhanaWeb interview from 2019, linked in the article, where she first articulated her vision for youth empowerment. By contrast, the article notes that her tenure at the Ministry was marred by allegations of favoritism in youth sports sponsorships—a detail that feeds into the overarching narrative of hypocrisy.

6. The Author’s Verdict

The article concludes by summarizing the evidence presented: a public denunciation of corrupt procurement practices, an approval of a contract lacking competitive bidding, a private residence purchased with a government grant, and a social‑media post praising integrity while the Chair’s actions diverge from that standard. The author argues that such inconsistencies “not only undermine the credibility of the PAC but also erode public trust in the democratic process.”

A closing call to action urges the Parliament to conduct an independent audit of PAC contracts and to hold Osei‑Asare accountable. The piece ends with a quote from a senior PAC member: “If our watchdogs fail, the whole system collapses.”

7. Relevance and Implications

The exposé is timely given recent discussions in Ghana about strengthening oversight bodies and preventing corruption. By bringing the Chair’s contradictions to light, A+ hopes to spark a broader debate about the ethics of public office holders and the accountability mechanisms within Parliament.

The article’s links to the PAC press releases, social‑media posts, and parliamentary minutes serve as primary evidence for readers to scrutinize the claims independently. The author’s use of these sources underscores the importance of transparency and corroboration in investigative journalism.

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