‘EOCO must not treat Parliament with disrespect’ — Dafeamekpor fumes over alleged arrest of MP

Majority Leader Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has strongly criticised the alleged attempt by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest a sitting Member of Parliament within the precincts of a court, insisting that the action disregarded constitutional protections afforded to MPs.

In a post shared on social media, Dafeamekpor addressed the controversy surrounding Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, arguing that EOCO and other law-enforcement agencies must follow the constitutional procedure when dealing with members of Parliament.

Dafeamekpor invokes Article 117

At the centre of his argument is Article 117 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides protection from the service or execution of civil or criminal process against the Speaker, a Member of Parliament or the Clerk to Parliament while the person is on the way to, attending, or returning from parliamentary proceedings.

Dafeamekpor said the constitutional protection should be respected and maintained in cases involving sitting MPs.

He explained that Article 117 establishes a specific procedure for serving MPs and parliamentary officials with civil or criminal processes.

According to him, the protection applies when a member is travelling to parliamentary proceedings, attending them or returning from such proceedings.

‘Procedure must be followed’

Dafeamekpor further argued that the constitutional provision has, through interpretation, been extended to require that the arrest of a sitting MP must first be channelled through the Speaker of Parliament.

“So far, this is the procedure in force in respect of an arrest of MPs in all cases,” he stated.

He consequently described the reported attempt to arrest Baffour Awuah at the court premises without first applying the procedure as unacceptable.

EOCO action sparks fresh controversy

The development has added another dimension to the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged attempt by EOCO officers to arrest the Manhyia South MP.

The incident has generated debate over the balance between the investigative powers of law-enforcement agencies and the constitutional privileges and immunities attached to parliamentary office.

Dafeamekpor warned that EOCO and other law-enforcement institutions must conduct themselves in a manner that respects the status and institutional authority of Parliament.

He said such agencies must not act in a way that “constitutes infra dignitatem” or affronts the powers, image, dignity and general standing of Parliament as a co-equal arm of government.

Constitutional protection at the centre

Article 117 specifically states that civil or criminal process coming from a court or a place outside Parliament shall not be served on or executed against the Speaker, an MP or the Clerk to Parliament while that person is on the way to, attending, or returning from parliamentary proceedings.

The provision is therefore at the heart of the latest debate over how law-enforcement agencies should approach investigations involving sitting legislators.

Dafeamekpor’s intervention signals growing concern within Parliament over the manner in which the alleged arrest attempt was carried out and whether the constitutional protections afforded MPs were adequately considered.

The controversy is now likely to intensify discussions over parliamentary privilege, law-enforcement powers and the limits of investigative action involving sitting MPs.