We can't go to parliament to maintain law and order – Ghana Police Service

Following the recent happenings in the House of Parliament, during the 2022 budget debate, some concerned Ghanaians have questioned why the Police did not go into the Chamber to maintain law and order. And take action against Members of Parliament who were seen engaged in what looked to many like violent disturbance and scuffles in the Chamber of Parliament, the Ghana Police Service has said.

Commotion characterized voting on the floor of the Parliament following disagreements on the E-levy and it started when the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who was then presiding over proceedings of the House in the absence of the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, attempted to also cast his ballot for passage of the Bill under a Certificate of Urgency.

The decision of the First Deputy Speaker to take leave of the Speaker’s chair for the Second Deputy Speaker to take charge to enable him to participate in voting turned chaotic when the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs attempted to prevent him from vacating his chair to participate in the headcount voting process.

This resulted in a clash between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and NDC sides in Parliament with some MPs throwing their fists while others fell to the ground for proceeding to be adjourned due to the misconduct.

After the fight, Ghanaians criticised the police administration for failing to show up in Parliament to call MPs to order.

But the Police in a statement signed by Director-General, Public Affairs, ACP Kwesi Ofori, explained why it refrained from visiting Parliament during the fight.

It said: We have, however, initiated steps to engage the Clerk, Marshal and leadership of Parliament to fashion out a more proactive way of supporting Parliament in this regard within the confines of laws of the country.

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