Ghana’s Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem Sai, has strongly criticized a Member of Parliament (MP) for allegedly abusing the constitutional protections granted to legislators to engage in false and malicious commentary.
In a statement, Dr Justice Srem Sai emphasized that while MPs enjoy constitutional protection against defamation suits, this privilege is meant to foster good-faith parliamentary debate and not to serve as a shield for spreading falsehoods.
He lamented that an MP had chosen to misuse this protection, thereby undermining its fundamental purpose.
“The Constitution grants MPs some protection against defamation suits. By the law literature, the purpose of this protection is to enhance the quality of GOOD FAITH parliamentary debate. The protection is not a security for false or malicious commentary”.
Dr Justice Srem Sai, Ghana’s Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice
He further noted that the search of Dr. Addison’s residence was conducted lawfully and in accordance with court authorization, dismissing claims that it was an act of intimidation and lawlessness.
According to the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr. Addison had access to legal counsel and representation throughout the search, affirming that the search was conducted in line with the terms of the court authorization.
Srem Sai asserted that such abuses of parliamentary privilege should not go unchecked, vowing that corrective measures would be taken to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.
Afenyo Markin’s Accusation and the Minority’s Stand
His remarks come in response to accusations made by the Minority Leader, Hon. Afenyo Markin, against the National Security over the alleged disappearance of money and jewellery belonging to Dr Ernest Addison, the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), during a recent search of his residence.
Hon. Afenyo Markin, in a strongly worded press statement, condemned what he described as a state-sponsored act of intimidation against Dr Addison.
He alleged that National Security operatives, acting under the directive of the government, had unlawfully raided the former BoG Governor’s residence, leading to the disappearance of his personal belongings, including money and his wife’s jewelry.
The Minority Leader’s statement triggered significant public discourse, with some questioning the legitimacy of the search and the potential political motivations behind it.
Others, however, have called for a thorough investigation to determine whether any wrongdoing occurred and to ensure that justice is served.
Government’s Anti-Corruption Drive and Upcoming Media Briefing
In a related development, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, is scheduled to hold a media briefing on Monday, March 24, 2025.
The briefing will provide an update on all ongoing investigations under the government’s anti-corruption initiative, Operation Recover All Root (ORAL), spearheaded by the new National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
The ORAL campaign was launched as a key part of the NDC’s governance agenda, aimed at retrieving state resources allegedly misappropriated under the previous government.
The initiative has so far led to multiple probes into financial mismanagement and suspected corruption in key government institutions.
The upcoming media briefing is expected to shed more light on specific cases under investigation, the legal justifications for recent searches and asset recoveries, and the government’s broader strategy for tackling corruption at all levels.
In the meantime, the Deputy Attorney General’s remarks signal a firm stance by the administration against what it perceives as an abuse of parliamentary privilege, setting the stage for a broader conversation on the limits of legislative immunity in Ghana.
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