Use legal means to achieve legal ends – Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on MP’s attempted arrest

Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has urged for the use of legal means to achieve legal ends, particularly in dealing with Members of Parliament (MPs). This call for due process came after a contentious incident at the Accra High Court on September 23, involving a detained nurse, Salomey Baffoe Awiti, and a Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.

The clash between security personnel from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and lawyers present at the court has raised concerns about the conduct of law-enforcement officials and respect for parliamentary privileges.

Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on September 24, described the incident as "the most unfortunate" and emphasized that while MPs are entitled to constitutional privileges, they are not above the law. He stated that these protections should not exempt MPs from accountability, urging the use of legal means to achieve legal ends.

The former Majority Leader explained that the original invitation from EOCO was addressed to the MP's law firm, not the MP himself. The firm consulted Parliament's Clerk’s Department and designated a senior officer to respond to EOCO's inquiries. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu questioned why EOCO proceeded to arrest the MP without first seeking clarification from the firm or its representative, suggesting that the move was unnecessary and could create tensions between state institutions.

He stressed that any action against an MP should be pursued through established legal and constitutional procedures, while clarifying that parliamentary privilege is not a shield against legitimate investigations or legal accountability. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu urged state institutions to respect each other's constitutional mandates, urging disagreements involving legislators to be resolved through lawful channels rather than actions that could undermine the authority of Parliament.