The Majority Leadership in Ghana’s Parliament has distanced itself from a position taken by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin, not to release the Member of Parliament for Madina/Abokobi, Francis Xavier Sosu, to the Ghana Police to assist with investigations into alleged offences committed during a recent demonstration in his constituency.
According to them, the Speaker was instituting new rules and undermining the Rule of Law without prior discussions with the Leadership of the House. An action, they contend is a clear departure from that of his predecessors in handling similar situations in the past.
This was contained in a press statement released to the media by the Majority Leadership in Parliament on Thursday, November 4, 2021, just before the start of proceedings for the day’s sitting after an initial press conference on the matter was cancelled and converted into a release.
The Office of the Speaker declined to grant an official request by the Police for him to release the said MP for investigations. He reasoned in a response letter dated 28th October, 2021 that, “having regard to the limitations of Article 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he is unable to release the Member of Parliament as requested.”
However, the Press Statement by the Leadership of the Majority Caucus in Parliament, faulted the Speaker for his posturing against the arrest of the Member of Parliament.
“As a group, the Majority believes firmly that constitutionally guaranteed immunity for MPs in our democracy must not only be protected always, but jealously guarded as well. However, never should we, as a Parliament, make the mistake of allowing immunity to be construed to mean impunity.
“We take a firm view that in the particular case under reference, Parliament, as the law-making arm of our democracy, has a constitutional, legal and moral duty to cooperate and collaborate with the Police to ensure that the Rule of Law prevails.
“Further, Parliament must not be seen to be creating a false regime of two separate laws in Ghana – One for MPs and another for non-MPs. Instead, Parliament must ensure the equality of all citizens, including MPs, before the law,” said the statement signed on behalf of the Majority Leadership by the Second Deputy Majority Whip, Habib Iddrisu.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
