Investigations, arrests aimed at silencing opposition MPs – Ahmed Shaib
Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, Ahmed Shaibu, has accused the government of using investigations and arrests involving opposition MPs to intimidate them and discourage them from speaking openly in Parliament.
Jerry Ahmed Shaib, a Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, has accused the government of utilizing investigations and arrests involving opposition MPs to intimidate them and prevent them from openly criticizing the government in Parliament. Shaib made these allegations during an interview with JoyNews, following the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Delegates Conference in Kumasi.
Shaib specifically addressed the case of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, who is currently detained and facing three charges, including money laundering. The parliament had previously condemned the continued detention of Awuah in the custody of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Awuah appeared before the courts at the time of the interview.
Shaib rejected the notion that opposition MPs were being weakened due to the government's actions, stating that this pattern of inviting, questioning, or detaining opposition MPs has been ongoing for nearly 20 months. He claimed that approximately 75 to 80% of Members of Parliament (MPs) have either been invited to the Economic and Other Crimes Commission (EOCO), the Bank of National Investment (BNI), or the Ghana Police Service during the government's tenure.
Shaib believes that the investigations are aimed at discouraging MPs from openly criticizing the government. He cited the case of Awuah, who had been involved in the Salomey Awuti matter prior to his arrest. Shaib questioned the involvement of the counsel in dealing with such matters, implying that it further strengthens the government's control over dissenting voices.
Shaib emphasized that Ghana operates under a democratic system and expressed concern over the excessive nature of the developments involving MPs. He also questioned the slow response to the situation, particularly given that the individual involved was a sitting MP. Shaib acknowledged that while MPs can be held accountable for their actions, the extended period of detention without bail raises questions about the fairness of the process.
Shaib acknowledged the risks associated with politics and mentioned a statement attributed to President John Mahama, suggesting that some politicians may make sacrifices for their beliefs.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
