Government spokesperson and Abura Asebu-Kwamankese MP Felix Kwakye Ofosu rejected calls to shield Members of Parliament from arrest, insisting that MPs should face law enforcement like any other citizen. His comments followed the attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah by officers of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, Felix Kwakye Ofosu said, “Look, there should be no difference between the coconut seller and the MP when it comes to law enforcement, unless we want to promote elitism.” He challenged the notion that MPs should be treated differently during police operations, adding, “I’m an MP. If I am believed to have committed a crime, my membership of Parliament should not be a stumbling block.”
The incident in question involved EOCO officers attempting to arrest MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. Videos of the event circulated online, prompting accusations that EOCO officers had tried to kidnap the legislator. Ofosu-Kwakye denied those claims, saying the video “showed a law enforcement officer acting with restraint.” He noted, “At the beginning of the video, I can say that I have never seen a law enforcement officer show so much politeness and civility towards a subject that he wants to arrest.”
He identified the officer as part of EOCO’s surveillance team with 17 years of service. “She’s a law enforcement officer who has gone to execute that,” he said. Ofosu-Kwakye acknowledged that the officer could have approached the situation with more strategy, but defended the overall conduct.
Regarding the operational details, Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed that EOCO had a tactical team ready to apprehend the MP if necessary. “They had a team that had. In fact, the lady herself was part of the team. She only disembarked to go and do the surveillance,” he explained. The tactical team ultimately refrained from intervening because officers assessed that using force might escalate tensions. “They decided not to because they gauged the altercation had ensued and noticed that if they went to apply force or do anything, you could escalate the situation. So they just what do you call it? Step down,” Ofosu-Kwakye said.
He also addressed the legal protections afforded to MPs, noting that the law provides immunity while travelling to and from Parliament. However, he rejected attempts to extend this protection to shield MPs from law enforcement beyond that scope. “The attempt that MPs make to use MPship as a reason why law enforcement cannot get them must stop,” he said.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about the extent to which Ghanaian MPs should be subject to law enforcement actions. His insistence that MPs have no special exemption from the law contrasts with some public perceptions that parliamentary status grants immunity from arrest or investigation outside parliamentary business.
The Manhyia South incident remains a flashpoint, illustrating tensions between political figures and law enforcement agencies tasked with investigating alleged crimes. EOCO’s cautious approach, including the presence of a tactical team and the decision to avoid force, reflects sensitivity toward the political implications of arresting a sitting MP.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu’s firm stance raises questions about how Ghana’s legal system and political culture will handle similar incidents in the future, especially as calls for accountability grow louder.
According to Joy Online.
