Speaker intervenes in Jinapor, Ayine home raids

The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye has said he would invite the appropriate authorities to his office to discuss matters relating to the raid of the homes of some Members of the Minority by the police.

His decision follows an appeal made by the Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Asawase Muntaka Mubarak on him to call the police to order after they raided the homes of some MPs on the Minority’s side as part of investigations into the controversial $510million Ameri power on Friday, 28 July 2017.

Making the appeal in Parliament on Friday July 28, Mr Mubarak said: “Mr Speaker I believe, not only members on our side, every Member of Parliament is a law abiding citizen and they will not run away from any responsibility to assist the state to do anything. But Mr Speaker, the worry is the nature and manner the police is raiding the residence of Members of Parliament at dawn when that citizen is not running, when the person has not been served with a notice that he has been charged. This is a very worrying situation.

“We on this side can reassure not only the police but the whole state that every member on our side is more than willing and ready to assist in any investigation that the government or the state wants to do but let’s do it in a manner that does not create panic and frustration.

“The invitation of these members on Monday when this house is sitting is an affront to the dignity of this house and will impede the members’ ability to perform their functions in this house. It is with this that I want to humbly appeal to your good office to intervene and assure the Police that we, and I believe every member of parliament will be more than happy to assist in any form.”

Reacting to this, Professor Oquaye said “It is also notable in several jurisdictions, the courts have made a very generous extension to matters relating to going to, being in, or coming from parliament and this honourable house will continue to be very mindful of any matter in this regard.

“We will want to ascertain whether the legal process was followed. I will, soon after sitting, call the appropriate authority to my office and demand that honourable members are handled appropriately, coterminous with their office as honorable members.”