Lawyer criticizes arrest warrant for Ghanaian MP — MyJoyOnline

In Ghana, private lawyer Martin Kpebu criticized the decision by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to seek a court warrant for the arrest of the Member of Parliament for the Manhyia South constituency, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.

High Court warrant

The High Court in Accra issued EOCO with a warrant to arrest the lawmaker after the agency told the court that it had exhausted reasonable options to secure his voluntary appearance. This was reported by MyJoyOnline.

Speaking on the Top Story programme on Joy FM, Kpebu noted that an arrest warrant is an additional legal tool for law enforcement agencies. At the same time, he said Parliament already has a procedure that makes it possible to ensure law enforcement access to MPs.

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Procedure through the Speaker

Kpebu referred to Section 20 of the Parliament Act, Act 300. According to him, law enforcement officers can write to the Speaker of Parliament and explain the grounds for such a request, after which the Speaker ensures access to the MP.

The lawyer questioned the need for EOCO to obtain a court warrant when a parliamentary mechanism exists. He also said that the Speaker can invite law enforcement officers to Parliament to meet with the MP.

In Kpebu's view, a requirement to report directly to a police station could create a risk of the lawmaker being held for a prolonged period. The parliamentary procedure, he said, makes it possible to ensure the MP's participation in the investigation while protecting the privileges associated with his mandate.