Minority reacts to Mpiani's "detention"

Accra, June 3, GNA - The Minority in Parliament on Wednesday observed that "the detention" of Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, former Chief of Staff, by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), amounted to the constriction of "the frontiers" of democracy.

"We assure them that from now onwards we shall resist them by whatever legal means and tools available to us," Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, told the press in Parliament in reaction to the questioning of the former Minister on Tuesday.

Describing the questioning of the former Minister as illegal, the Minority Leader said: "Clearly, the method of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) under the NDC in this matter amounts to nothing less than constricting the frontiers of democracy. By every step of the NDC, we are witnessing a return to the regime of impunity." Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said Mr Mpiani had on many occasions publicly stated his readiness to co-operate with the police whenever he was needed to assist in investigations.

"In the circumstances, one may want to know what the role of the BNI is, in an alleged criminal investigation, and for a person who has consistently stated his preparedness to submit to investigations, why detain him upon a telephone invitation?"

The Minority Leader said basic courtesies required that at least the spouse and some members in leadership of the party be informed about the reasons for the detention of Mr Mpiani.