Man attempts to commit suicide in Parliament (VIDEO)

It was a scary spectacle in Parliament on Thursday when a 35-year-old man attempted to commit suicide there. The man, identified as Kojo Mensah from Kwesimintsim, who tried to jump from the Public Gallery into the Chamber of the House, was restrained by officers of the Parliamentary Protection Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

Mensah sat at the Public Gallery in a New Patriotic Party (NPP) embossed T-shirt, with the picture of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwesimintsim, Mr Joseph Mensah.

As soon as the sitting was adjourned, Mensah began to shout: “I will kill myself! I will kill myself!” and tried to jump from the gallery into the main Chamber.

He was subsequently restrained by the security officers, who also arrested him. He has, meanwhile, been transferred to the Ministries Police Station.

The incident happened around 1:30 p.m., immediately after the House had adjourned for the day's business and Marshals were leading the Second Deputy Speaker out of the House.

Mensah is said to have tried on many occasions to see the Kwesimintsim MP.

Mensah, who is said to have lost his father and is saddled with the responsibility of footing the medical bills of a sick mother, arrived in Parliament about 11 a.m. to see Mr Mensah.

Disappointed

Disappointed at not getting the opportunity to see the lawmaker again, after many prior visits, Mensah, who resides in the Kwesimintsim Constituency, decided to end his life.

Mensah, who is nursing an injury, a dislocated shoulder, untied the bandage supporting his shoulder to carry out the suicide mission.

He untied the bandage, tied it around one of the seats and rolled it out to tie his neck in readiness to jump from the Public Gallery.

Alarmed by his actions, security operatives of Parliament quickly moved in to avert what would have been a disaster and quickly whisked Mensah away in handcuffs.

Visibly in pain from his injuries as the police escorted him to the Parliamentary Police Post, the suspect moaned, amid wailing: "I want to kill myself, Joseph Mensah, MP for Kwesimintsim. I will kill myself."

Under control

The Commander of the Parliamentary Protection Unit, Superintendent Mr Freeman Tetteh, said the motive of the suspect was unknown.

He did not give further details but only added: "We salvaged the situation in good time."

Supt Tetteh assured all that the security in Parliament was on a high alert and that all who visited Parliament to observe proceedings in accordance with their constitutional rights were safe.

Mr Tetteh said investigations had begun into Mensah’s conduct.

Meanwhile, the MP in question, Mr Joseph Mensah, is said to be in Switzerland on an official parliamentary assignment.