The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) have taken cover under the Speaker’s protection barely 24 hours after threatening to impeach him for persistently treating them with disdain, suppressing, bullying and denying them the opportunity to have their say in parliament.
The rush for the speaker’s protection follows the invitation of three of their MPs to come to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Monday, July 31, 2017.
The invitation was by the Director of CID, DCOP Bright Oduro, and it is meant to help in investigations into the AMERI power deal, which is said to have caused financial loss to the state.
The minority chief whip, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, urgently made the request on the floor of parliament yesterday for the speaker to intervene on behalf of the affected MPs.
According to Alhaji Muntaka, the police invitation to the MPs undermines the authority of parliament and also interferes with the work of a parliamentarian, who is insulated under Article 117 of the Constitution and Order 22 of the Standing Orders of Parliament from any arrest or court orders in the performance of his or her official duties.
The minority chief whip indicated that minority MPs were ready to cooperate with the security services in the performance of their legitimate duties.
He said the NDC was not happy with the way agents of the security services had been harassing some MPs under the guise of court orders or warrant.
The minority chief whip recalled that agents of the security services on Monday, July 24, raided the residence of the MP for Pru East, Dr Kwabena Donkor, for some documents on the AMERI deal and in the process, his laptop and pen drives were seized.
And yesterday similar raids were carried out in the residences of the NDC MP for Yapei/Kusawgu, John Abdulai Jinapor and the MP for Bolgatanga East, Dr Dominic Ayine, by the security operatives for a similar reason.
Muntaka therefore appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, to use his good offices to write to the Director of CID that on Monday, July 31, 2017, the aforementioned NDC MPs would not be able to report to the CID headquarters because they would be discharging parliamentary duties.
Parliament will be hosting the Minister of Finance on Monday for the presentation of the mid-year review of the 2017 budget statement, and therefore the house would sit and eventually rise on Wednesday, August 2.
The majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, supported the argument of the minority chief whip, saying that MPs are insulated under Article 117 and Order 22 from police arrests and court orders in the course of the performance of their official duties.
He said even if such arrests must be effected, request must be made through the speaker for permission before they (arrests) could be made.
Prof Mike Oquaye said that he would immediately communicate with the CID boss over the invitation that on Monday the MPs would not be available.
He said as far as he remained the speaker of parliament, he would ensure that the people’s representatives were protected and the dignity of the legislature also protected.
He said his office would collaborate with the authorities of the security agencies to ensure that they use the appropriate channels to invite MPs for any investigations.
Source: Daily Guide
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The speaker of parliament shouldn't get involvement into any NDC criminal Mps who are facing the Ameri deal charges, what power do the speaker of parliament has that he could use to protect those guys from criminal investigation the CID are conducting on Ameris business deals.The president should warn the speaker of parliament from his kindness game playing to protect the NDC opposition members in parliament. Stop protecting them please thank yu
The Mp for Odododiodoo Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuije said he was going to make Parliament ungovernable. In fact a statement was made that the Speaker was going to be impeached now you are asking him to use his Office as Speaker to intervene. If you are MP and you make Parliament ungovernable, it is like putting your house on fire and calling the Fire Service to come and put it out for you. RESPECT MUST BE GIVEN WHERE IT IS DUE.
I thought they ve planned to impeach the speaker, why are they running to for cover, these id!0ts know no shamee
PROSECUTE ALL OF THEM. ***barred word***
plse let the security do their work and stop judging Ameri case. NPP nobody is perfect.
Most of you commenting on the issue appears to have judged them as ***barred word*** while the police hasn't said so. Can you please be a bit civil and wise in your comments. Thanks
Asiedu Nketia said K.T. Hammond will be prosecuted after December 2016. What happen General Mosquito? Your people are now pleading with the speaker for intervention for being ONLY INVITED BY THE CID. Why? has the table turned Mr. Nketia? Speak! You bunch of ***barred word*** NDC id10ts.
This Jinapo guy is too pride that he need to be jail, a lot of Ghanaian's know that this John has bought houses around Ghana especially Tema and Accra
Its good to hear their pleading voice but heavens are watching them every body must exercise patience and pray for THEIR HEALTH TO QUALIFY FOR TRIAL because they are diabolic and robbers thinking Ghana is their inheritance time must tell ,, May ALMIGHTY SAFE MOTHER GHANA
Equal but different ,Dr. Ali Gabass, Teacher kwadwo, Mallam Issa,Dorzin the farmer etc all arrested and prosecuted in their line of duty all serving mother Ghana. Why the exception Why should I (a teacher ) be arrested on my way or in my class leaving my pupils to suffer . Remember that in some schools there is or are one or two teachers teaching all classes yet the constitution of Ghana thinks that such a teacher can be arrested any how , When logically we know that even in the absence of five MPs the 270 others can do anything meaningful #theconstitutionneedsrepaires