Military, Police must answer for invading Ghana’s Parliament – Haruna
The Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces would have to answer for invading the Chamber of Parliament on January 7, the Opposition Leader of the House, Haruna Iddrisu, has said.
The Tamale Central MP said the two institutions would have to explain to the House why they should not be charged for contempt for storming Parliament.
“I also saw ACP Kwasi Ofori in the Chamber on the night of January 7. He probably will have to come and explain to parliament what he and his men were doing in the chamber at that material moment because that is also in contempt of parliament.
“He has to demonstrate that he was invited into the chamber by the Marshal of Parliament and as I indicated to you earlier, we are law abiding citizens, so he has to explain the circumstances in which he got into the chamber of parliament.
“The armed military officers will have to explain how they got to the Chamber of Parliament and why they should also not be hauled before Privileges and committee for contempt of parliament,” he told journalists on Wednesday.
The then Minority Leader and lawmaker’s comment comes after the military and the police stormed the chamber of Parliament on January 7 during the election of a speaker for the 8th Parliament.
Military men stormed the chamber following stalemate between MPs-elect for the NDC and NPP sides while elections was ongoing.
The events preceding the inauguration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is something that has been frowned on by the majority of the populace including the opposition National Democratic Congress.
The Flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, condemned the military intervention and called for a thorough investigation.
“The recent use of the military in civil democratic processes has become a major worry and gives the impression that this administration is continually seeking to resurrect the exorcised ghosts of our military past.
“Parliament must conduct an investigation into the two incidents and exact appropriate sanctions,” the PresidentIal candidate of the NDC said in a post.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Parliament described as regrettable incidents that occurred in the build-up to the inauguration of Ghana’s 8th legislature.
In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo, it noted that although the incidents nearly marred the elections, it would be good to build a united front and forge ahead.