Communicators and sympathizers of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) never cease to amaze me with their wobbly and hypocritical commentaries in respect of the ‘Francis Xavier-Sosu v Ghana Police Service’ peekaboo story.
They have craftily created an erroneous impression in the minds of their followers that the embattled MP for Madina is on the Police radar for his mere role as leader of last week’s demonstration exercise in Madina, and sadly enough, they (gullible followers) have bought into this misinformation and distortion of facts.
For the avoidance, the Ghana Police Service is not inviting Sosu for leading a demo — a right article 21(1)(d) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution grants.
On the contrary, he’s needed by the Police to assist with investigations into some lawless acts allegedly perpetrated by some of the demonstrators illegal road blockades, burning of tyres, obstruction to public highway, among others.
THE HYPOCRISY
A few weeks back, there was virtually pomp and pageantry amongst the rank and file of the NDC when Rev. Owusu Bempah, a pro-NPP pastor was arrested and detained by the Police over unlawful acts allegedly engaged in by his ‘boys.’ According to the NDC, that singular act of arrest was indicative of the current IGP’s abhorrence to the creeping lawlessness in the country.
Strangely today, under this same IGP, an invitation is extended to an NDC Member of Parliament to assist with investigations and hell has broken loose. The chorus from the “$20 Million Headquarters” is that President Akufo-Addo’s government is using George Akuffo Dampare to harass NDC members.
- Incredible! But come to think of it; is Hon. Francis Xavier Sosu the first legislator in the history of Ghana to be invited by the Police for us to be bamboozled with Parliamentary privileges/immunities?
- Were these privileges not on our statute books when Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong was arrested and prosecuted in 2012?
- How about invitations of other security establishments extended to the likes of (then MPs) Dan Abodakpi, Dr. Richard Anane, O.B. Amoah et al?
This blatant disrespect from the legislator under the guise of parliamentary privileges should not be tolerated.
Parliamentary privileges are not absolute! In fact, nobody, not even the President/Commander In-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces has unfettered immunity.
To put it mildly, nobody is above the law and the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin should know this. His letter to the Police which makes nonsense of the invitation to the Madina MP is the cause of the needless drama we are witnessing.
It’s important for us to draw this important fine lines for us to grow our institutions.
Source|osimpamfm.com|Richard Owusu Tawiah
