Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem-Sai has condemned the misuse of parliamentary immunity, cautioning that necessary steps will be taken to prevent its abuse.

He stressed that constitutional protections granted to Members of Parliament (MPs) are intended to foster responsible debate, not to shield individuals from accountability for false or defamatory remarks.

In a Facebook post, Dr Srem-Sai highlighted concerns over MPs exploiting their immunity to make baseless accusations.

He emphasised that the constitutional provision exists to promote good-faith discussions in Parliament and should not be used as a tool for spreading misinformation.

“The Constitution grants MPs some protection against defamation suits. By law literature, the purpose of this protection is to enhance the quality of GOOD FAITH parliamentary debate. The protection is not a security for false or malicious commentary,” he stated.

According to Dr Srem-Sai, a particular MP had abused this privilege by making misleading statements within the legislative chamber, leading to public disaffection toward certain individuals.

He noted that such actions undermine the integrity of parliamentary immunity.

“Sadly, an MP has chosen to abuse this protection by using the premises of Parliament to peddle malicious falsehoods, which has resulted in creating public disaffection and opprobrium for persons. That, clearly, defeats the purpose of the constitutional protection,” he added.

The Deputy Attorney General also refuted allegations that former Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr Ernest Addison, was mistreated during a National Security search of his residence.

He clarified that Dr Addison was granted legal representation throughout the process and that the search was conducted professionally and within the court’s authorisation. “

Dr Addison had access to legal counsel and representation throughout the search. The search was conducted in line with the terms of the court authorisation; and cordially,” he explained.

Dr Srem-Sai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing any abuse of parliamentary privileges. He assured that necessary measures would be implemented to prevent the exploitation of MPs’ constitutional protections, ensuring a fair and responsible democratic process.

“Such abuse of MPs’ constitutional protection will be corrected and remedied for the healthy growth of our democracy,” he concluded.