The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has said that contrary to the expectation of some members of the general public, they as a state law enforcing agency cannot just walk into Parliament ensure law and order.
The GPS through a released press statement, noted that it could not have gone to Parliament on Monday night to stop a scuffle between some Members of Parliament (MPs) between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress.
Perhaps reacting to criticism by a large section of the general public on why it failed to ensure that there was peace and order during Monday’s sitting, the GPS explained that it refrained from visiting Parliament to enforce the law during the scuffle because the laws of the country does not permit them the right to do so.
It further explained that going to Parliament to stop the brawl is completely not within their remit as a law enforcing agency.
Portion of the police statement read “The legal position is that the Police have no authority to enter the Chamber of Parliament to undertake any law enforcement venture. Any such act will be in the contravention of the laws of the country.”
Explaining further the statement pointed out that per the country’s constitutions; only the Marshal of Parliament handles security issues pertaining to the House.
According to the police, going to Parliament to stop the brawl would have meant that they overstepped their limitations in their line of duties.
“We have however initiated steps to engage the clerk, Marshal, and leadership of Parliament to fashion out a more proactive way of supporting Parliament in this regard within the confines of the laws of the country,” the statement remarked.
Readers will recollect that during a similar sitting earlier part of this year some military men stormed the House to restore law and order during a scuffle between the two political parties; something was widely condemned by the Ghanaian people.
Read below the statement from the Police
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