The Ghana Police Service has filed charges against Member of Parliament for Madina constituency, Francis Xavier Sosu, over a demonstration he led in his constituency on October 25, 2021.
According to the Director General of the Police Service, ACP Kwasi Ofori, charges against the embattled MP includes “obstructing the highway [and] causing damage to public property”.
“The Police has obtained a criminal summons and has been duly served for him to appear in court on November 8…”
ACP Kwasi Ofori
ACP Ofori explained that the Service has not received any invitation from Parliament regarding contempt of Parliament served on some senior officers who allegedly manhandled the MP. He noted that as and when the invitation comes, “the administration will take a firm decision”.
In the police unsuccessful attempts in arresting Mr Sosu, ACP Kwesi Ofori intimated that the court process has duly been served on the MP and expects to meet him in court to answer the charges.
Speaker fumes over Police attempts of arrest of MP
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, expressed “with grave concern” the attempts by the Police Service to arrest Mr Sosu “in a manner and fashion that offend not just the letter but the very spirit that underpins our 1992 Constitution”.
Contained in a statement issued by the Parliamentary Service on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, and signed by the Deputy clerk, Eric Owusu Mensah, it disclosed that Mr Bagbin has “also taken note of the press releases and posture of the Police Service including the interdiction of Inspector Daniel Agbavor, the Police Officer providing personal protection” to the Madina legislator.
The interdicted police officer, he insisted, should be commended for discharging his duties “dutifully” and not condemned.
In registering his displeasure over the summons, the Speaker indicated that it is “difficult to comprehend” the fact that Mr Sosu who had engaged the police prior to the demonstration would be the subject of “attempted arrest” by the police.
The statement revealed that the referral to the Committee of privileges was made on October 27, 2021. Despite the “pendency” of the referral, it explained that the Police wrote to the Speaker of Parliament to release Mr Sosu to report to the Police headquarters to assist in investigations. This, it noted, was after the referral had been made at a plenary sitting of Parliament.
Following this, the Speaker caused a response to be written noting that, the House was “sitting” and a member of parliament “could not be released to assist in investigations”.
The Speaker reiterated that the immunities and privileges of Members of Parliament are not “absolute”. As such, the procedure for causing the arrest of a sitting Member of Parliament or serving a court process must be in accordance with the Constitution.
“The appropriate procedure is to secure from the Speaker, a certificate that the Member in question is not attending to Parliamentary Business. Anything short of this should not be entertained by the House”.
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