The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the government of colluding with the Koforidua High Court to harass the Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi.
His allegation follows the justification by Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka regarding the attempt to arrest Ernest Yaw Kumi. The arrest was based on a bench warrant issued by the Koforidua High Court for contempt.
Addressing journalists, Afenyo-Markin urged security operatives to respect the country’s laws. He expressed concern over the National Investigation Bureau’s (NIB) attempt to apprehend Ernest Kumi, describing it as highly unusual.
He found it troubling that the minister defended the NIB’s actions, which, in his view, indicated a clear case of collusion between the government and the Koforidua High Court to manipulate legal processes.
He further argued that the minister’s explanation that the court order was relayed to the National Security Coordinator’s representative in the Eastern Region, who then forwarded it to the NIB was surprising and difficult for the Minority to comprehend.
Afenyo-Markin insisted that this was not the proper legal procedure. He explained that, under the law, once a court issues an order, it is the duty of the registrar to assign a bailiff to enforce it. However, in this case, the Supreme Court had already placed a freeze on the enforcement of the order. Despite this, security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest the MP a week after the ruling, an act he described as harassment. He noted if not for the intervention of Kumi’s constituents, the situation could have escalated.
He stated that the Minority would file a parliamentary question for the Attorney General to explain the circumstances leading to the alleged collusion between the judiciary in the Eastern Region and the National Security Coordinator.
