News:
November 5, 2025
The Speaker of Parliament has reminded Members of Parliament to be mindful of their actions, adding that the privileges they enjoy are not absolute for which reason they must act within the confines of the law.
The Speaker’s advise is in respect of the aftermath of the backlash of reports of attacks on the team from the National Anti-illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) – a task force which has been established to combat illegal mining activities in the country, in which an allegation was made to the effect that the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo incited an alleged attack on NAIMOS operatives and also rope in a senior member of the House, Collins Dauda.
The Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Bagbin in a communication on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, pointed out that his office has never shielded any member of parliament and will not do it, hence will cooperate with the investigative agencies in their work.
According to him, many MPs have volunteered themselves to the investigative agencies without coming through his office, “so please let it not be said anyway that members of parliament are being shielded from the rule of law; not at all. I have copies and the list of the members involved with the law”, he noted.
He said while he commend the action of the member of parliament for voluntarily submitting to the CID, “I want to urge the Ghana Police Service to ensure that at all material times, the privileges and immunities of members, especially when the house is in session are adhered to”; adding that it’s for good reason that even if you are in the position to deal with a law enforcement officer, you cannot do that because that law enforcement officer represents the law and the country; and when you attempt to resist or lay hands on that officer, you are dealt with ruthlessly.
The Speaker noted that he is yet to be fully briefed on the matter but condemned in no uncertain terms the attack on the team of security officers who have been assigned to help deal with the menace of galamsey.
“Nobody has denied the attack, and we must all condemn that attack, the people of Ghana looked to this House as a beacon of hope, and it is our collective duty to set standards and reflect the values of our great nation. Our actions and inactions carry immense power, effects and impact on Ghanaians and the world at large.
I have therefore instructed the office of the clerk and the Liga Services Office to provide all the needed support to the investigation by the Ghana Police Service within the framework of the 1992 constitution, the laws of this country and the standing orders of the house. I am made to understand that the member has voluntarily submitted himself to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to assist in the investigation as many members have done in other cases under investigation. In fact, there are so many members of parliament that are under investigation.”
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com