We expect Madina MP to do the honourable and cooperate with us – Police
The Ghana police have given the indication that they are not giving up and will exploit all means possible to invite Madina Constituency lawmaker, Francis-Xavier Sosu for questioning.
For Director of Public Affairs at the Police Service ACP Kwesi Ofori, they could exploit the legal means to challenge the Member of Parliament’s privileges at the court.
“We are in a democratic country. The Police have options. Even if it comes to the interpretation of that clause in the Supreme Court, the Police are prepared to do it,” ACP Ofori said.
He also quoted Article 117 of the constitution saying “civil or criminal processes coming from any court or place out of Parliament shall not be served on, or executed in relations to, the Speaker or a member or the Clerk to Parliament while he is on his way to, attending at or returning from, any proceedings of Parliament”.
ACP Ofori defended the Ghana Police Service position saying they also have the right to invite Mr Sosu for questioning over the demonstration he led in his Madina Constituency over their deplorable roads.
The Police are insisting that some acts during the protest were not lawful.
“We know the constitution empowers the Police to conduct investigations and other matters bordering on security and as a Member of Parliament, we expect that he will also show that respect and a good gesture towards the police.”
This has led to a tussle between the legislator and Police and they attempted to arrest him on the day of protest but he escaped and later filed a complaint against the Police on the floor of Parliament.
After an alleged second attempt, the Police denied that they were there to arrest, rather, they went to the church premises for “tactical reasons”.
“The Police did not arrest him. Their intentions, their tactical direction perhaps may have been different for being there… If it was to be an arrest using all the necessary available means, we could have done that,” ACP Ofori noted.
He, however, added that the Police expected Mr Sosu to cooperate with the Police.
“The honourable thing to do is to report to the Police, make himself available, and cooperate with our investigation.”
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament has also declined a request from the Police to release Mr Sosu.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
