Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has confirmed that authorities handling the drug trafficking claims involving the Assin South MP, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, have resorted to following due process after initial concerns were raised over their approach.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM‘s Middaynews on Thursday, April 10, the Minority Leader disclosed that following engagements with the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), they have agreed to apply the necessary legal and parliamentary protocols in handling the matter.
“This matter, I am reliably informed that a letter has been conveyed to the Speaker’s office. The known procedure will be followed, and we will take it from there,” he revealed.
He noted that due process is critical in ensuring fairness and justice in any investigation, cautioning that those in power today may find themselves in need of the same protection of the law when out of office.
“Let us allow due process. One day, you may be out of power, and you’ll be calling for due process. That is my message to my colleagues,” he stated.
Mr Afenyo-Markin explained that the leadership of the Minority had expressed concern over the manner in which the initial stages of the matter were being handled, particularly regarding alleged attempts to arrest the Member of Parliament without following parliamentary procedures.
He clarified, however, that there was never an issue of resisting arrest but rather a call for the right procedures to be followed.
According to him, after constructive engagement with the authorities, they de-escalated the situation and agreed to adhere to the constitutional processes required when dealing with a sitting Member of Parliament.
He also confirmed that the Minority has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament on the matter, and all eyes are now on the Speaker’s office to act per parliamentary procedure.
“It is not a matter of resisting arrest. There’s no issue of resisting arrest. We were concerned — and as the leader of my caucus, I engaged the authorities and pointed out the law and the protocols. They agreed to the due process, which they have now initiated,” he explained.
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