Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has stated emphatically that no lawmaker will be shielded from accountability as investigations continue into the alleged attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) by the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo.
The Speaker clarified during proceedings that parliamentary privilege should never be mistaken for immunity from legal responsibility, emphasizing that Parliament upholds the rule of law and will not obstruct justice under any circumstance.
He reminded the House that his role as Speaker does not extend to protecting Members of Parliament from due process, noting that the legislative chamber has consistently cooperated with security agencies in all lawful investigations and will continue to do so.
“This is a formal communication on a reported attack on a team of national NAIMOS; it is not a formal communication on privileges and immunities. Honourable, he is being investigated; he has not been convicted.
“We want to erase the perception that members are always being shielded from due process of the law. You all know we have never done that. The fact that you hold some positions and that you enjoy protection doesn’t mean you are above the law. That is what I want to expatiate on and clarify – that the Speaker is always protecting MPs from the law”
Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
Majority Supports Speaker
Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga supported the Speaker’s position, reiterating that Members of Parliament are subject to the same laws they help enact.
He explained that the current investigation stems from reports of an attack on the NAIMOS team in Asutifi North, where the police allege that the lawmaker instigated resistance against a state task force. According to Hon. Ayariga, he personally facilitated communication between the lawmaker and the Ghana Police Service to ensure compliance with legal processes.
“The law enforcement agencies are seeking to establish and investigate whether, indeed, a crime has been committed for the purposes of being prosecuted or held accountable in any form or shape. Yesterday, I got a call from the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka, that the IGP needed the member on this side for interrogation.
“So this morning he went with our Majority Chief whip and his lawyer, they received him at CID headquarters, took him through the processes. I received a call not quite long ago that he had been taken to court. As we speak, he is in court being arraigned”
Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Majority Leader
Referencing the progress made under his watch, the Majority Leader stated that “we, as Members of Parliament, do not consider ourselves above the law. We are always ready to be accountable for our actions and inactions,” reaffirming Parliament’s commitment to transparency and legal compliance.
Hon. Ayariga added that since Parliament enacted the laws establishing the country’s security institutions, it also has a moral duty to respect and cooperate with them. He noted that lawmakers who face allegations must follow the same judicial processes as any other citizen.
MP Denies Allegations
Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, in an earlier statement issued before his appearance at the CID headquarters, denied claims that he led or encouraged any form of violence.
“I wish to state that under no circumstance will I incite the youth against security officers or any government-planned agenda,” he said, insisting that he had worked to restore calm in the area rather than inflame tensions.
The MP described the allegations as false and damaging to his reputation, expressing disappointment that the police had not acknowledged his role in promoting peace during the unrest.
He maintained that he remained committed to ensuring cooperation between Parliament, local authorities, and security agencies to preserve peace and stability within his constituency.
“I urge the public to disregard the false narratives aimed at tarnishing my reputation and undermining my efforts to serve my constituents,” he stated, assuring his continued commitment to public safety and the integrity of state institutions.
That notwithstanding, the Ghana Police Service confirmed that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, instructed the CID Headquarters to take charge of the investigation into the Asutifi North incident.
Police Investigations
In a detailed situational report, police investigators indicated that NAIMOS operatives intercepted illegal miners near Bronikrom in the Ahafo Region and arrested several suspects – with items recovered during the operation including firearms, ammunition, two unregistered vehicles, and mobile phones.
However, the situation reportedly escalated when the Hon. Addo, the MP for Asutifi North, arrived at the scene with a group of men demanding the release of the suspects. When the demand was refused, the group allegedly overpowered the NAIMOS officers, freed the detainees, and forced the task force to retreat.
The police further alleged that later that evening, a large crowd of about 600 people besieged the Hwidiem Police Station, demanding the release of the detained miners and confiscated vehicles, all of which led to the lawmaker being subsequently invited to assist with investigations into his alleged role in inciting the disturbance.
Parliament’s leadership has expressed full support for the ongoing investigation and has called for calm while the police pursue due process. The Speaker and the Majority Leader both underscored the need for state institutions to act within the law while ensuring fairness to all parties involved.
As Ghana continues to confront illegal mining and related disturbances, the case has sparked renewed debate over the balance between political authority and legal accountability.
Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin’s remarks signal a firm institutional stance that parliamentary office will not be used as a shield for misconduct, setting a tone of cooperation with law enforcement in the broader national interest.
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