Minority Urges Speaker Bagbin to Intervene Following Attempted Arrest of Assin South MP

The Minority in Parliament is calling on Speaker Alban Bagbin to assert his authority following what it described as a breach of parliamentary protocol during a failed attempt to arrest Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South.

According to the Minority, operatives from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) attempted to arrest Rev. Fordjour at his residence on April 9 without following constitutionally mandated procedures for engaging sitting MPs.

The attempted arrest is reportedly linked to investigations into suspected drug trafficking and money laundering involving two international flights that transited through Ghana in March.

Members of the Minority Caucus rushed to the MP’s residence to prevent the NIB from taking him into custody. The standoff ended only after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin allegedly intervened and offered to present the MP to the NIB the next day — a claim that remains unconfirmed by the Minority Leader.

Rev. Fordjour has since condemned the incident, labeling it a “lawless act” designed to intimidate him.

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu noted that Speaker Bagbin had not granted permission for Rev. Fordjour to be released for questioning — a constitutional prerequisite under Articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution.

The Minority cited recent precedence in which Speaker Bagbin allowed two other MPs—Mustapha Yussif (Yagaba Kubori) and Kwame Asare Obeng (A-Plus, Gomoa Central)—to meet with NIB officials, but under strict conditions, including that meetings occur within Parliament’s premises and with legal representation.

A statement signed by Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, outlined those procedures to safeguard the integrity of Parliament.

The Minority is now urging Speaker Bagbin to take swift action to protect the sanctity of Parliament and ensure such breaches do not recur.