EOCO must understand constitutional protections for MPs – Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has urged the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) leadership to grasp the constitutional safeguards protecting Members of Parliament (MPs). This comes after a heated incident at the Accra High Court on September 23, involving lawyers for a detained nurse, security personnel from EOCO, and an MP.

The event has raised concerns about how law-enforcement agencies interact with MPs while they are carrying out their parliamentary duties. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu described the incident as "most unfortunate," particularly because it took place within the court setting. He questioned why EOCO pursued action against the MP when their legal counsel had already engaged the investigative body and submitted a statement after a series of communication attempts.

Despite the responses, EOCO reportedly did not express dissatisfaction or request further interaction with the firm's representatives, leading Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to deem the subsequent steps unnecessary and potentially harmful to democratic governance. He emphasized that MPs must be able to serve without undue hindrance. According to him, MPs have the right to attend court in matters of parliamentary significance, such as observing proceedings or bringing issues before Parliament.

Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu challenged EOCO and other law-enforcement bodies to comprehend Ghana's constitutional framework governing Parliament before taking any action involving legislators. He highlighted that the MPs' privileges are not meant to protect them from legitimate investigations but rather to ensure Parliament can function effectively.

He urged EOCO and other law-enforcement agencies to handle legislative matters through appropriate legal channels to resolve disputes. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu underscored the importance of Ghana's democratic institutions respecting each other's constitutional roles to bolster democratic governance. He maintained that accountability and parliamentary privilege can coexist if all parties adhere to the law.