Martin Kpebu questions EOCO’s decision to seek warrant for Manhyia South MP’s arrest

Legal expert Martin Kpebu has raised concerns over the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) seeking a court warrant to arrest Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. His remarks came after the Accra High Court granted EOCO a warrant, stating that officers had attempted all reasonable avenues to secure the legislator's compliance.

During an appearance on Joy FM’s Top Story, Kpebu pointed out that while arrest warrants offer extra protection for law enforcement, the Parliament has an existing mechanism to render MPs accessible to such agencies. "Under our law, Section 20 of Act 300, that’s the Parliament Act, says that if you want the MP, write to the Speaker of Parliament.

So you write and explain everything," Kpebu explained. "The Speaker will make him available." The legal practitioner questioned the decision to bypass this parliamentary protocol in favor of a court warrant. "I don’t understand why they should request to avail himself on that procedure," Kpebu remarked. He further expressed worries that compelling an MP to report to a police station could lead to potential abuse, such as prolonged detention.

"When they ask the MP to go to the police station, look, a very vindictive mean police officer, overzealous, or a government that wants to teach an MP a lesson, there will be ways and means to keep the MP there from morning to evening," Kpebu said. He emphasized that the parliamentary procedure could both encourage cooperation from MPs and safeguard their parliamentary privileges.