The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has refused a request by the Police to release the Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu, for arrest.
Police are chasing after the NDC MP for leading a demonstration they say resulted in the destruction of properties and blocking of roads in his constituency on October 25, 2021.
Mr Sosu insists he has a privilege against arrest while performing his parliamentary duties. He said he was performing his parliamentary duties when led his constituents on the demonstration.
After the first attempt to arrest him, Mr Sosu filed a formal complaint in Parliament accusing two police commanding officers of contempt of Parliament.
Police then wrote to the Speaker to release the MP for interrogation, however, that request has been declined.
A letter signed by the Deputy Director of Legal Services of Parliament explains that the Madina MP will be engaged in legislative proceedings.
“I am directed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to inform you that proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament commenced on Tuesday 26th October 2021, and having regard to the limitations of articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he is unable to release the Member of Parliament as requested in your letter.
“The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament further directs that I refer you to the provisions of article 122 of the 1992 Constitution and to inform you that on Wednesday the 27th October, 2021 he referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament, allegations of breach of parliamentary privilege and contempt by ACP Isaac Kojo Asante and ACP Eric Winful of the Accra Regional Police Command and the Adenta Divisional Command respectively,” the letter stated.
Two police chiefs, Greater Accra Regional Operations Commander, ACP Isaac Kojo Asante, and the Adentan Divisional Commander, ACP Eric Winful, are expected to face Parliament's Committee on Privileges soon for superintending the attempted arrest of the MP during the demonstration.