We are not sabotaging Special Prosecutor's work - Parliament

Parliament has denied allegations that it is sabotaging and obstructing the work of the Special Prosecutor and other law enforcement agencies.

Instead, Parliament says it has co-operated with the Special Prosecutor during the investigation stage of a case involving a former Minister of state and Member of Parliament, Mahama Ayariga.

Reacting to the allegations by the Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu in a statement, Parliament said it has in the past collaborated with other law enforcement agencies in similar matters.

"Indeed our engagement with the Special Prosecutor was a follow up to a letter dated the 23rd May, 2019 which he had written to the Speaker, whereby Mr. Amidu requested the release of Hon. Mahama Ayariga to be arraigned before the High Court in Accra on 4th June, 2019," the statement said.

"Parliament, on 31st May, 2019, written to the Special Prosecutor, recognising the role of the latter in the fight against corruption. Parliament invited the Special Prosecutor for further discussions on the matter. According to the letter, the meeting was to "dialogue with your high office as to how your Office and the Court could be availed of Hon. Ayariga for arraignment before Court with due regard to his privileges, the presumption of innocence and in a manner which will enable him to continue to efficiently perform his Parliamentary duties".

The statement said during the meeting, the Special Prosecutor's attention was drawn to Articles 117, 118 (1) and 122 of the 1992 Constitution which provide that:

117: "Civil or criminal process coming from any court or place out of Parliament shall not be served on, or executed in relation to the Speaker or a Member of the Clerk to Parliament while he is on his way to, attending at returning from, any proceedings of Parliament.

118 (1): Neither the Speaker, nor a member of, nor the Clerk to Parliament shall be compelled, while attending Parliament to appear as a Witness in any court of place out of Parliament

122: An act or omission which obstructs or impedes Parliament in the performance of its functions or which obstructs or impedes a Member or Officer of Parliament in the discharge of his duties or affronts the dignity of Parliament or which tends either directly or indirectly to produce that result is contempt of Parliament.

The statement described as unfounded the suggestion by the Special Prosecutor that the Speaker had a private meeting to get him to approach the prosecution wrongfully.

"It is pertinent to recount that at the meeting, Parliament suggested to the Special Prosecutor that it was not in any way saying that an MP could not be prosecuted. But just as it happened in the trial of Hon. Dan Abodakpi, the MP could be tried on Mondays.

"In addition, it was suggested that the long three-month vacation was coming soon (August to October) and the MP could be tried day to day Certainly, the Special Prosecutor did not see the benefit of the suggestion to use the vacation time in Parliament to do a trial. The time is almost gone and the Prosecutor has done nothing".

Read the entire statement below;

PARLIAMENT STATEMENT ON MARTIN AMIDU on Scribd