The Dean of Faculty of Law of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi, has waded into the legal argument concerning the arrest of MPs and whether the Police needs permission from the Speaker to do so.
According to him, “the police are not duty-bound to inform or seek the permission of the Speaker before effecting an arrest of an MP.”
He added, “The authority of the Police to arrest extends to everyone except the President. An MP can only evade an arrest if he is on his way from or to Parliament.”
His comments are in relation to the Contempt of Parliament filed by the Madina MP, Francis Xavier-Sosu, following his attempted arrest during a protest last Monday.
Professor Abotsi, other legal experts, including Ace Ankomah and Kweku Paintsil, have argued that the interpretation of Articles 117 and 118 as proffered by Parliament deviates from the intent of the Constitution.
