Dr. Richard Amoako Baah, a political analyst, has urged the government to follow the law in its handling of the case involving the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour.
His comments follow an incident on Wednesday, April 9, when operatives from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) reportedly stormed the MP’s residence in an attempt to arrest him.
The move was in response to allegations made by Rev. Fordjour regarding two suspicious aircraft that landed at Kotoka International Airport, which he suggested could be linked to drug trafficking and money laundering.
The operation was later called off without an official explanation.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Joshua Kodjo Mensah, Dr. Baah criticised both the conduct of the MP and the government’s handling of the situation.
While acknowledging that Rev. Fordjour should have exercised more caution in how he raised his concerns, Dr. Baah was particularly critical of the government’s response.
He argued that even if the MP’s claims were false or misleading, the state must respond lawfully and avoid retaliatory or intimidating actions.
He said, “Well, it’s not how it should be, the whole thing is that I don’t understand it, it looks as if the democracy we are trying to practice, we don’t understand it,” a citizen may for whatever reason engage in misinformation, you understand. But the government in response to that cannot also engage in misinformation and misbehavior. The government goes by the rule of law, due process only.”
He slammed the government’s approach, saying it should not behave like a “rambo” with 20 people to arrest a minister without justification.
“No, that’s how it’s supposed to work. It’s not good, no. The government should not behave like a rambo, 20 people to arrest a minister, why? Is he a security risk?”
Dr. Baah stressed the importance of following legal channels when dealing with parliamentarians.
According to him, if the law requires waiting for the Speaker’s approval before making an arrest, then that procedure must be respected.
Dr. Baah stated, “And so if the individual, whatever you think, misinformation is wrong, is mischievous, whatever, you follow the law. And if you cannot arrest him until the speaker is there, then wait for the speaker, if that’s the law. I don’t think that it is. You see, you are an MP, you don’t have that immunity that is only, it’s supposed to be on your way to parliament or away from it, coming from parliament, then you cannot be arrested. Otherwise you can. It is not that you have immunity because you are a parliamentarian, no.”
