Former Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has accused Speaker Alban Bagbin of changing the established procedure for dealing with Members of Parliament who are invited or arrested by security agencies.

According to him, previous Speakers followed a tradition where security agencies informed the Speaker about MPs who were accused or required for questioning.

He said Speaker Bagbin has now changed the “whole architecture” by stating that security agencies are only required to notify his office and do not need to obtain his approval before arresting or inviting an MP for questioning.

'No permission needed to arrest an MP' - Speaker Bagbin clarifies

“...Speaker Bagbin has changed the whole architecture. Now, he says he should just be notified and his approval is not needed,” Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated in an interview on Okay FM on September 24, 2026.

The former Majority Leader’s comments follow the attempt by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, at the Accra High Court on September 23, 2026.

EOCO has confirmed that its officers attempted to arrest the lawmaker at the court premises, saying the action was connected to an ongoing investigation.

The agency said Baffour Awuah had been invited on two occasions in February 2026 to assist with the investigation but failed to honour the invitations.

Baffour Awuah, however, has disputed EOCO’s account, insisting that he was never personally invited by the agency.

He said the February 2026 invitation was addressed to him in his capacity as Senior Partner of his law firm.

After becoming an MP, he said he referred the matter to the Clerk of Parliament.

He also said a representative of the firm subsequently cooperated with EOCO’s investigation.

Speaker Bagbin has maintained that security agencies are not required to seek his permission before arresting or inviting a Member of Parliament for questioning.

Addressing Parliament during the Second Meeting of the Second Session, the Speaker said the agencies are instead required to inform his office of the action they intend to take and provide the circumstances and allegations that have led to it.

He explained that the Speaker’s role is to determine whether parliamentary privilege or immunity applies in the circumstances.

“It’s not for the security agents to seek my permission before arresting or inviting a Member of Parliament for questioning. It’s not. It’s for them to inform me and include the circumstances or the allegations that have created the suspicion,” he said.

Bagbin’s position is that notification to the Speaker is required, but prior approval is not a prerequisite for an arrest or invitation.

JKB/VPO

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