MP attacked by armed robbers

Accra, April 22, GNA - Mrs. Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, Speaker, on Wednesday directed the leadership of Parliament to deliberate on the personal security of members and advise on the way forward, following a 7.45 pm robbery attack at gun-point on a member.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Member for Kwadaso was attacked at his East Legon residence in Accra on Friday, April 17, this year, as he watched television upstairs with his family and some visitors. The member, in personal statement made on the floor of the House, walked other members of the House through the harrowing event. Dr Akoto said four armed men burst onto the scene and robbed them of everything of value in the house and escaped in the vehicle belonging to his visitor.

"As a temporary measure, the local police have provided my family and me with an all-night protection for 14 days only. They strongly advised that the necessary arrangements be made with the Ghana police to continue with such protection," he added. He called on the Interior Minister and Inspector-General of Police to step up efforts to protect the residential areas. He said as MPs their security should be of major concern as they performed public duties.

Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader, said they would take up the matter and asked for an extension of time to protect Dr Akoto and his family, to enable them get over the shock. The House later approved the 2009 formula for the sharing of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) with a call on the districts to generate revenue locally instead of depending solely on the fund for development.

An amount of 345,687,483.00 Ghana cedis allocated in this year's budget for the DACF has already been approved by Parliament.