News:
April 10, 2025
The Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh has written a petition to the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin, over his directives on how the security agencies investigating an MP or related matters should proceed.
The petition to the Speaker follows the National Intelligence Bureau’s (NIB) attempted arrest of the Ranking member on defence and interior Rev. John Ntim Fordjour on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
The Minority Chief Whip recounted that the Speaker wrote to the NIB on April 2, 2025 reiterating these established protocols grounded in Article 117 and 118 of the 1992 Republican constitution of Ghana, as well as prevailing protocols established with the national security and intelligence agencies to engage the Member for Yabga/Kubori, Mustapha Ussif and the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng.
And the arrest attempt followed a recent press address held in Parliament by the Assin South MP, which was made for and on behalf of the Minority caucus on a matter of national importance, in execution of his parliamentary duties.
Again, the action taken by the NIB undermines the authority of the office of the Rt. Hon. Speaker, but also direct violation of the privileges and immunities of a Member of Parliament as established in the constitution of the Republic.
“They pose serious threat to the separation of powers and the respect accorded the elected representatives in the performance of their duties”.
He urged the Speaker to take steps to re-affirm his earlier directives and engage the relevant security heads to ensure that such interactions with the MPs are conducted in a manner that conforms with the constitution and with decorum.
The Minority Chief Whip appealed to the Speaker to ensure that the procedure adopted by the security agencies in dealing with MPs is befitting of the status of an MP who is the representative of the people, The Minority chief whip appeal to the Rt. Hon speaker.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com