Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye, Speaker of Parliament has advised the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other security agencies to respect the privileges Members of Parliament enjoy to all sides of the political divide.
He gave this warning on Tuesday 25 of September when proceedings on the floor of the House delayed and he had to explain that, the House of Collins Dauda had to be invaded in attempts to arrest him through the necessary process.
Professor Oquaye said. “The privileges of this honorable House have been clearly set out in the Constitutions of the Republic of Ghana. It applies to all members, whatever side and at all times and all circumstances”.
“We want the security agencies to be mindful, in fact, the police should not invade the premises of a member or appear to be doing so in a manner that will raise difficulties for us. Members of Parliament are not above the law but that the privileges given to us by the constitution that we have all agreed to be ruled by, should at all material times, be respected and protected,” he said.
He further added that he wants to put on record that in the future, the leadership of the House, the Speaker of the House should be informed of all such needs so that it can be done with the appropriate decency.
The Speaker added that there had been occasions during his tenure that he has provided the police access to his conference room and in his presence of leadership as the security agencies ask whatever they want to ask so that, Parliament would not be seen as shielding any wrongdoing and at the same time keeping to the honor that must be given to the institution.
According to the Speaker, the police administration should respect MPs privileges and by following due process in their investigations involving MPs.
He said the leadership of parliament, together with Collins Dauda, will, after Tuesday’s sitting, visit the office of the Criminal Investigations Department over the dawn raid of the MP’s home.
By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com
