Parliament to query Interior Minister on alleged police sexual misconduct

Parliament has scheduled to invite the Minister for the Interior to answer questions next week, Thursday, November 8, 2018 on alleged sexual misconduct and exploitation by some officers of the Ghana Police on mission to Sudan.

The House, according to the Business Statement for next week would ask the Interior Minister questions on the circumstances leading to the sexual misconduct allegation of the police and their subsequent recall.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, presenting the Business Statement, in the House, in Accra on Friday, indicated that there would be questions relating the Interior Ministry, which would also feature the alleged sexual infringement of the Police on mission to Sudan.

Last July, the Ghana Police Service interdicted 14 out of the 46 officers repatriated from South Sudan for alleged sexual misconduct, and ordered for the residences of the officers to be searched to retrieve all items given to them by the Service including; weapons, uniforms and other paraphernalia.

The police unit working with the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan was recalled from Juba in February this year, as allegations of sexual abuse against them kick-started.

This was after an investigation was launched into a complaint that members of the unit were having sexual relations with women living at one of its protection camps.

In a statement signed by the UNMISS head David Shearer, the 46 police personnel have received information which “indicates that some members of the FPU (Formed Police Unit) allegedly engaged in transactional sex.”

They are reported to be sleeping with the women living in one of the protection camps and giving them gifts or favours in return.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told the House that Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza. MP for Adaklu, would next Thursday “ask the Minister for the Interior the circumstances leading to the recall of the Ghana Police Service Unit on United Nations mission in South Sudan on sexual misconduct allegations.”

Also, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa would “ask the Minister for the Interior whether a statement from the United Nations in Mission in South Sudan, dated February 24, 2018, alleging that UN Peacekeepers from Ghana and part of the Formed Police Unit had engaged in sexual exploitation, has come to the Ministry’s attention and if so, what responsive measures were being taken by the Ministry.”

On the same day, Mr James Agalga, a former Deputy Minister for the Interior; and MP for Builsa North would ask the current Minister “whether there are plans to implement the Arms Treaty which was acceded to and ratified by Parliament in 2015.”

Dr Clement Apaak, MP for Builsa South would ask the Minister when a District Police Commander would be posted to the Builsa South to head the Builsa South Divisional Police Headquarters and “what is being done to improve law and order in Builsa South.”

The Majority Leader informed the House that the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2019 “is expected to be presented in the House during the third week of the Meeting.

The House continues with the consideration of the Right to Information Bill, 2018, and the Majority Leader reminded colleague parliamentarians to devote more time and avail themselves for business at the plenary to enable the completion of the bill at the consideration stage before the introduction of the Budget.

Members of the House have also been scheduled to ask questions relating to the “One District, One Factory” industrialisation policy of the Government.