The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr Rasheed Draman, has described the detention of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong, in the Netherlands as a matter of national concern, urging Parliament to release any available information to curb public speculation.
Speaking on the development in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr Draman said the detention of a sitting MP in a foreign country had implications for the image of both Parliament and Ghana as a whole.
“When an MP is detained, particularly in a foreign country, it becomes a national issue because this is a representative of the people who was duly elected and sworn in to uphold the Constitution and laws of this country,” he said.
Read also: Kwame Ohene Frimpong: Parliament confirms detention of Asante Akyem North MP in Netherlands
Role model
He explained that MPs were expected to serve as role models because they represented not only their constituencies but the entire nation.
“The whole nation is your constituency. MPs are expected, at all times, to conduct themselves in such a way that they earn the honourable title we give to them,” he stated.
Avoid speculation
Dr Draman, however, cautioned against rushing to conclusions regarding the circumstances surrounding the MP’s detention, noting that the details remained unclear.
“We do not know the reasons behind his detention. People are speculating, but it could be due to many reasons. We have to be very circumspect and not pronounce him guilty until the details emerge,” he said.
He stressed that, regardless of the circumstances, the development was unfortunate for the country’s image.
“It is not a good day for Parliament. It is not a good day for all of us as Ghanaians because once the individual is in custody, they say a Member of Parliament of Ghana,” he added.
Dr Draman further called on Parliament to make public any information it had concerning the matter to prevent misinformation and rumours.
“If Parliament has information, the earlier they make it public, the better. Otherwise, the speculations are going to go in all kinds of directions,” he said.
According to him, democratic systems in advanced countries operated without preferential treatment for public officials, making it likely that details surrounding the case would eventually become public.
“In those countries, there is no big man syndrome. Whether you are a prime minister or an ordinary citizen, you face the law equally,” he stated.
Broader discussion
Dr Draman also suggested that the incident could trigger broader national discussions about the processes used in selecting and vetting parliamentary candidates.
“Based on this case, there might have to be some discussion on the way forward for our country and the kind of system we have regarding who qualifies to go to Parliament,” he said.
Recall
Parliament, in a brief statement, confirmed that the Independent MP for Asante Akyem North has been detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The statement posted on Facebook, said the matter had been brought to the attention of the House and that efforts were underway to obtain full details surrounding the incident.
The statement, signed by the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, indicated that the Speaker of Parliament and the leadership of the House were engaging Ghana’s diplomatic mission in The Hague over the development.
The statement did not disclose the reasons for the detention, the duration of the MP’s stay in the Netherlands, or whether any formal charges had been preferred against him.