The Ghana Police Service has confirmed that it has formally filed charges against the Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu for a demonstration held in his constituency which the police believe he led.
Confirming the charges preferred against Hon. Sosu, ACP Kwasi Ofori, the Director of the Police Service noted that the MP is being charged for causing damage to public property, obstructing a highway and added that the MP is expected to appear before a law court on November 8, 2021, to answer the charges.
Continuing he remarked “the Police has obtained a criminal summons and has been duly served for him to appear in court on November 8…as we enumerated the charges includes obstructing the highway, causing damage to public property.”
On the issue of Parliament declining the police request to have the MP answer some questions over his involvement in the demonstration, ACP Ofori noted that the Service has not received any invitation from Parliament regarding contempt of Parliament served on some senior officers who allegedly manhandled the MP.
Asked what the Ghana Police Service will do should that happen, he answered that the administration of the Service will take a firm decision when that happens?
Earlier, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumani Bagbin expressed Parliament’s displeasure over attempts by the Police to disregard his earlier directive and arrest the Madina MP, even before the Privileges Committee begins hearings on the contempt case against the two senior officers.
He mentioned that the action of the Police is not only a violation of the Constitution but also disingenuous. In a statement released to the press, the Speaker on Wednesday observed that the attempt to arrest Mr. Sosu during a church service last Sunday is an affront to Parliament and his powers as the Speaker.
Reports sometime last week emerged that a team of plain clothe police men attempted to arrest the MP during a service of a church he had visited. They failed to whisk him away after the youth of the area stormed the church to insist that the arresting officers show a court warrant that gave them the right to arrest their MP.
In response, the Police denied the claim and rather explained that its men were at the church to gather intelligence.
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