MPs hiding behind “Medieval” laws to escape accountability-Kofi Bentil

Private legal practitioner Kofi Bentil says Members of Parliament should stop hiding behind “medieval” laws to answer for their role in contracts signed on behalf of the state. 

The homes of three sitting NDC MPs were searched on the orders of a court warrant for their role in the controversial Ameri Power plant deal, which is now a subject of government investigations. There is suspicion the contract, signed by the previous administration, was inflated by $150 million, money was given to Ameri as a commission.

Mobile phones, laptops, and other documents were taken from the homes of Dr. Kwabena Donkor, John Jinapor and Dominic Ayini, but a search has been condemned by MPs from both sides who describe the action as contemptuous, and an impediment on their way.

Minister of Energy Boakye Agyarko’s committee established to investigate the matter wants the entire contract abrogated or reviewed. The committee said Ameri charged Ghana significantly higher than what it was charged by the Turkish registered company – PPR, which financed and executed the project.

Former Deputy Energy Minister under the NPP KT Hammond, MP for Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, gave an indication he will table a motion in Parliament covering the deal. But the minority said has given an indication it will oppose the motion.

Speaking on JoyFm’s Newsfile programme, Mr. Bentil said inasmuch as he agrees that MPs be protected, he does not believe they are above the law. He said there is an attempt by the MPs to use “medieval” laws to escape accountability and should be checked.

“It is not the best that we seem to have a set of laws that apply to the rest of us, and not MPS,” he said. He said MPs are giving the indication the law should protect them “24/7” to the extent that even while at home, they are doing “parliamentary work.”

Mr. Bentil said the MPs should stop complaining and change the law because they are the same people who work in and out of governments.

Rockson Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi, who was also on the programme, said MPs are only asking to be put on notice in such matters.

He was unhappy the police had to take personal items from MPs including electronic gadgets.
“They are retrieving phones, they are retrieving electronic gadgets.”
He cautioned the police against accessing details from the gadgets without a court order.

 

primenewsghana.com/Ghana News