Members of Parliament in the Ashanti Region are livid over the way security officials treated Member of Parliament for the Kumawu constituency, Philip Basoa, at the confirmation of the District Chief Executive (DCE) nominee for the Kumawu local assembly.
According to the caucus, the legislator was humiliated and disrespected when he attempted to enter the meeting premises last week.
“Per the personal account and the video evidence available to us, the honourable member was physically prevented by heavily armed security men from entering the meeting premises.”
“We strongly condemn in no uncertain terms the behaviour of the security men, the presiding member and whoever authorized their action,” the caucus said in a statement.
The caucus said there was no basis for the Member of Parliament to be denied entry to the premises as he is an ex-officio member of the assembly.
“Against this background, we find this disrespectful and humiliating conduct of the security men and the presiding member unacceptable,” the MPs added.
The Ashanti MP caucus has asked Parliament’s privileges committee to drag the presiding member for the Sekyere Kumawu District before them and make him answer questions with regard to the incident.
“Let it be clear that, in the spirit of the separation of powers, Members of Parliament are not subservient to the Executive and we will not accept the use of executive authority to humiliate and disrespect honourable members of Parliament in the region,” the caucus said, warning that it will not countenance any “illegal conduct” against any Member of Parliament.
Read the full statement below:
CONDEMNATION OF UNLAWFUL CONDUCT AGAINST HON PHILIP BASOA, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR KUMAWU
The leadership of Ashanti MPs Caucus observes with grave concern the treatment meted out to our colleague, Hon. Philip Basoa, MP for Kumawu on the occasion of the confirmation of the President’s DCE nominee at Kumawu last week.
Per the personal account and the video evidence available to us, the honourable member was physically prevented by heavily armed security men from entering the meeting premises.
We strongly condemn in no uncertain terms the behaviour of the security men, the Presiding Member and whoever authorised their action.
Let it be stated that the MP was legally well-placed to participate in the said meeting in his capacity as an ex-officio member of the Assembly, in accordance with section 5 of the Local Government act, 2016 (Act 936).
Again, in accord with Article 122 of the Republican Constitution, it is unlawful and indeed a contempt of parliament for an MP to be prevented from undertaking his constitutional duty of representation.
Against this background, we find this disrespectful and humiliating conduct of the security men and the Presiding member unacceptable. We call on the leadership of Parliament to take this matter to the Committee on Privileges to bring the security men and the Presiding Member to answer why they should not be charged for contempt of parliament.
Let it be clear that, in the spirit of the separation of powers, Members of Parliament are not subservient to the Executive and we will not accept the use of executive authority to humiliate and disrespect honourable members of Parliament in the region.
We wish to caution all, including security men, to desist from such illegal conduct against any MP as we will not hesitate to use every constitutional procedure and privilege available to us to protect ourselves from such unlawful and shameful conduct.
–
Hon. Kwame Anyimadu Antwi
(Chairman)
