Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has told Members of Parliament that security agencies do not require his permission to arrest or invite them for questioning.
Speaker Bagbin noted that security agencies are only obligated to formally inform his office of such actions.
According to Alban Bagbin, there is a growing misconception that security agencies must first seek approval from the Speaker before acting against lawmakers.
He explained that his office’s role is limited to being notified of any incident involving an MP, and to assess whether parliamentary privilege or immunity applies in each case.
Speaking to Members of Parliament during the Second Meeting of the Second Session of Parliament on Thursday, May 21, Alban Bagbin explained, “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”.
His comments follows Justice Abdulai, a Private legal practitioner, has demanded that the Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, be cited for contempt for his comments against a circuit court judge.
According to Justice Abdulai, Afenyo-Markin is fully aware that parliamentary immunity cannot shield him from contempt proceedings.
He described the Minority leaders’ comments against the circuit court judge as inappropriate and amounted to contempt of court.
Speaking to GHOne TV, Justice Abdulai stated, “The Minority Leader is very much aware of this. The Minority Leader is a senior lawyer. He knows very well that contempt of court is part of the process and that he cannot rely on his parliamentary immunity”.
“Historically, parliamentary immunity was designed to protect members of parliament from abuse by the executive. Today, we no longer have that kind of situation because we have systems in place to check abuses by the executive against parliamentarians,” he explained.
“And so, if a parliamentarian relies on his immunity to abuse the court, I would insist that the appropriate authorities in this particular case, unfortunately, it can only be the court, invoke its authority to cite him for contempt. And I would strongly urge that to happen,” he added.
Justice Abdulai comments follows, the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) who launched yet another attack on a judge, this time around the circuit court judge handling the case of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, commonly known as Abronye DC.
The minority leader, speaking at a press briefing on May 17, 2026, fired shots at the circuit court judge, alleging that he doubts whether the judge passed his law exams.
According to Afenyo-Markin, he will continue to disrespect the circuit court judge until he upholds the law, alleging that the judge has no respect for his own judicial oath.
Speaking at a press briefing on May 17, 2026, Afenyo-Markin stated, “That judge has no respect for his own judicial oath. I don’t think he read the law. That circuit court judge called Niger. I have no respect for him. For a judge to say that he’s remanding him into BNI custody until the case is finally determined, such a judge can never have my respect.
“I pray that he summons me for contempt. I will continue to disrespect him until he upholds the law. He’s gone beyond his judicial function, and it is not his first time. It’s as if he has been selected purposely to achieve this. He doesn’t talk law. I don’t know whether he ever passed his law exams. He’s a shame,” he fumed.
Afenyo-Markin added, “It’s a shame on the judiciary, and my Lord Baffoe must pay attention to this, for whatever it is, it’s about his legacy. I’m told that by December, he will be 70, and he will be gone. Is that the legacy he wants to leave after Torkornoo was booted out of office and all manner of accusations levelled against Torkornoo? Is that the judiciary?
“The judiciary, they said, they were going to reset. Is that a reset? Where a judge will say he is remanding an accused person because if he allows him to go home, if he grants him bail, he’s likely to talk again, so he should remain in custody?” he said.
See the post below:
Dear MPs, security agencies don't need my permission to arrest or invite you, they only need to inform me… – Speaker Bagbin to Members of Parliament#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #NewsAlert #GHOneTV pic.twitter.com/pfc8SGDFnq
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) May 21, 2026
