Leadership Of Parliament To Meet IGP Over Sosu’s Case – Haruna Iddrisu
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has disclosed that the leadership of Parliament will meet with the Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Iddrisu said the meeting will be to discuss “several other matters including the matter of immunity” of the Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu.
This meeting according to him, comes after the IGP wrote to the Speaker.
The human rights lawyer who led his constituents in the #FixOurRoads demo has been fighting several attempts by the Police to take him in on charges of obstruction of highway and destruction of public property.
According to the Police, on October 25 this year, the angry protestors blocked the Ayi-Mensah – Danfa road burning tyres and obstructing traffic in the process.
The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Ghana Police Service wrote to Parliament on Wednesday October 27, 2021 demanding that the MP be released to assist with investigations over what the police describes as his alleged involvement in the unlawful blockade of a road and the destruction of public property.
However, attempts to arrest the legislator have proved difficult, with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin stepping in to defend the legislator.
According to the Speaker, the legislator was on parliamentary duties and thus enjoyed parliamentary immunity even on the protest ground.
In the latest twist, the Madina MP who has recently returned from a trip outside the country, on parliamentary duties, has filed a human rights action pursuant to Article 33 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 67 of the High Court (Civil Procedures) Rules, C. I 4 for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
The MP is asking for an order for the enforcement of his right to freedom of movement, right to protest and demonstrate, right to personal liberty, right to freedom of expression, and right against unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution (Articles 14(1), 21(1) and 33 of the 1992 Constitution) of the Applicant and for an Order for Stay of all Criminal Investigations and proceedings by the Ghana Police Service and the Inspector General of Police.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service says it will deploy every legal means to interrogate the MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu after Parliament was unable to release the MP for investigations.
Mr Iddrisu said “Parliamentary immunity and privileges from the Lord Kings in the United Kingdom was to preserve the honor and dignity of a Member of Parliament to ensure that in the performance of his duty, he is not obstructed.”
Therefore the attempts to arrest the Madina MP before his constituents was uncalled for, he insists.
SOURCE: myjoyonline
