The Minority in Parliament has accused the judiciary of colluding with the government in an attempt to unlawfully arrest embattled Akwatia MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi. The group has vowed to summon the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, before Parliament to answer questions regarding the attempted arrest by national security operatives.
The controversy stems from a bench warrant issued by the Koforidua High Court after convicting the MP of contempt. However, the Supreme Court later intervened, freezing the enforcement of the warrant. Despite this, security operatives reportedly attempted to apprehend the MP in his constituency, prompting an outcry from the Minority.
Minister for Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, defended the actions of the National Security operatives, telling Parliament that they were lawfully executing a court order. However, Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has rejected this explanation, describing the situation as a clear case of judicial and executive overreach.
Speaking to the media in Parliament, Afenyo-Markin questioned the legality of the operation, arguing that the proper judicial processes were not followed.
“We found it very strange that the Minister justified the actions of the National Investigation Bureau (NIB). Clearly, there is collusion between the government and the High Court of Koforidua to use their own set of laws in our country,” he said.
He further criticized the involvement of the National Security Committee’s representative in the Eastern Region, stating that enforcement of court orders should be handled by judicial officers, not security operatives.
“When there is a court order, it is for the registrar to assign a bailiff for the purpose of enforcing the order. This was a situation where the Supreme Court had already frozen the enforcement of that order. So for a week after the ruling, to hear that state security operatives were harassing the Member of Parliament in his constituency—armed with pickup vehicles and even pulling a pistol on him—is unacceptable.”
Afenyo-Markin assured that the Minority would file a formal question for the Attorney General to address the issue in Parliament.
“This country operates under the rule of law, and I can assure the government that today, a question will be filed for the Attorney General to come and answer the circumstances leading to the judiciary in the Eastern Region colluding with the National Security Coordinator and the NIB to enforce an order that the Supreme Court had already frozen.”