Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has expressed concerns over the National Intelligence Bureau's (NIB) attempted arrest of Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South. The incident occurred at a court premises where Baffour Awuah was attending proceedings involving one of his clients. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that the incident raises serious questions about the conduct and oversight of intelligence agencies, particularly in their dealings with Members of Parliament.
According to Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the law firm where Baffour Awuah is a senior partner had already responded to an earlier invitation from the NIB. The invitation was directed at the law firm as an entity, with Baffour Awuah expected to assist in his capacity as a senior officer of the firm. A female senior officer subsequently appeared before investigators on three occasions and eventually submitted a statement on behalf of the firm.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu questioned why the MP was pursued to court and an attempt made to arrest him when the law firm had already cooperated with the NIB. He criticized the explanation subsequently given by the intelligence authorities, saying it failed to acknowledge the earlier engagement with the law firm. The former Majority Leader described the incident as unnecessary and unfortunate and warned that it should not be allowed to escalate.
The incident has triggered questions about the appropriate limits of intelligence and investigative agencies when dealing with elected representatives, particularly where parliamentary privilege and legal proceedings are involved. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu relied on Article 123 of the Constitution, which gives an MP the opportunity to witness at first hand situations in which a citizen is suffering affliction, persecution or a breach of freedom and to bring such matters before Parliament.
Baffour Awuah, as a lawyer, was also entitled to be present at court proceedings involving his client. The Manhyia South MP subsequently went to Parliament, where he sought sanctuary and addressed the incident. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the constitutional provisions should be respected to prevent similar confrontations between state agencies and Parliament in future.
The incident has sparked concerns about the relationship between intelligence agencies and Parliament. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu's comments reflect a broader debate about the limits of intelligence agencies and the need for greater oversight. The issue is likely to continue to be discussed in the coming days.
Key points
- The National Intelligence Bureau's attempted arrest of Baffour Awuah has raised concerns about the conduct and oversight of intelligence agencies in Ghana.
- The incident has triggered questions about the appropriate limits of intelligence and investigative agencies when dealing with elected representatives.
- Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has called for the NIB to be reined in, citing the need to respect constitutional provisions governing the engagement of MPs.
