Kpebu Questions Direct Arrest Of Manhyia South Mp, Calls For Speaker’s Involvement.

Prominent Ghanaian legal practitioner and human rights advocate, Martin Kpebu, has questioned the procedure surrounding an Accra High Court order authorising the Economic and Organised Crime Office, EOCO, to arrest the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.

The court has also granted EOCO authority to search for and seize documents considered relevant to its ongoing investigation.

Speaking on the matter, Martin Kpebu said he was not sure he could support the use of the word arrest, based on the analysis available to him.

He explained that, ordinarily, if investigators require the presence of a sitting Member of Parliament, the appropriate procedure is to write to the Speaker of Parliament, outlining the reasons and providing sufficient details about the matter.

According to him, the Speaker, who is usually a lawyer, would then consider the request and determine the appropriate course of action.

Mr. Kpebu stressed that the investigation remains important because the company at the centre of the matter is state-owned, making it a matter of public interest.

He therefore urged the authorities not to rush ahead, insisting that the proper procedure should be followed.

He, however, noted that there could be exceptional circumstances where an MP may be arrested directly, particularly when the person is caught in the act of committing a serious offence.

He cited a situation where an MP could openly use a firearm to shoot or injure someone, saying in such an instance, the police would not be expected to leave and return later to make an arrest.

Mr. Kpebu maintained that outside such exceptional circumstances, the relevant authorities should engage the Speaker of Parliament when they require the presence of a sitting MP.

Story by Solomon Kesse.