We have no authority to enforce law in the Parliament – Police explains silence over blows in Parliament
Following Monday, December 20, 2021, altercation that occurred between Majority and Minority Members on the floor of Parliament, the Police Service have come out to explain its silence on the matter, saying it has “no authority to enter the Chamber of Parliament to undertake any law enforcement venture”.
In a statement released today, the Police said, “Following the recent happenings in the House of Parliament, during the 2022 budget debate, some concerned Ghanaians have questioned why the Police did not go into the Chamber to maintain law and order and take action against Members of Parliament who were seen engaged in what looked to many like violent disturbances and scuffles in the Chamber of Parliament,” portions of the statement read.
“The Ghana Police wishes to draw then the attention of the general public to the fact that, by Ghana’s constitutional arrangement, security issues within the Chamber of Parliament are the responsibility of the Marshal to Parliament who takes instructions from the Clerk of Parliament on such matters”.
It added that “The legal position is that the Police have no authority to enter the Chamber of Parliament to undertake any law enforcement venture. Any such act will be in contravention of the laws of the country,” portions of the statement signed by ACP Kwesi Ofori read.
However, the Police have according to the statement commenced steps to foster a better collaboration in matters of such nature.
“We have, however, initiated steps to engage the Clerk, Marshal and leadership of Parliament to fashion out a more proactive way of supporting Parliament in this regard within the confines of the law of the country,” the statement concluded.
Source: Richard Mensah Adonu | Join our Telegram Group
