The Ghana Police Service has explained why its officers did not intervene when Parliamentary proceedings on Monday night turned chaotic.

In a press statement signed by Director General of Public Affairs, ACP Kwesi Ofori, the Service stated that the "Marshal to Parliament" is mandated by law to ensure order in the House when MPs misconduct themselves.

The release stressed that the Police holds no power to enter the Chamber of Parliament to undertake any law enforcement venture.

"… By Ghana's constitutional arrangement, security issues within the Chamber of Parliament are the responsibility of the Marshal to Parliament who takes instruction from the Clerk of Parliament on such matters. The legal position is that the Police have no authority to enter the Chamber of Parliament to undertake any law enforcement venture.

"Any such act will be in contravention of the laws of the country. Therefore, the Marshal and his team of officers have to deal with such situations in the Chamber," portions of the statement read.

According to the Police, it only intervenes when such matters are brought before it for investigations.

The prosecution of Members of Parliament over such matters, the Service said, is dependent on the leadership of the House.

"In as much as we are committed to our mandate of maintaining law and order in the Ghanaian society, we are also mindful not to overstep the limitations imposed on it by law," it added.

The Service's statement comes to address concerns from Ghanaians who have criticised the Service for not ensuring the scuffle that ensued during proceedings on December 20 was curbed.

On that faithful night, some Members of Parliament engaged in a fistfight following a disagreement during the voting on government’s E-levy bill. Some MPs managed to land slaps and punches while others fell to the ground.

This occurred when the House was deciding whether to accept the E-levy Bill under a certificate of urgency or not through a head count vote.

According to JoyNews report, the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, who was presiding over the House, decided to vacate from his seat and participate. This infuriated the Minority side and some of the NDC MPs rushed to prevent this.

They were met by members of the Majority side at the Speaker's table.

Scuffle breaks out in Parliament as the First Deputy Speaker, Joe Osei-Owusu vacates the chair for the second deputy speaker to preside, ostensibly so his vote could be counted. #JoyNews pic.twitter.com/aWu82AhSOD

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) December 20, 2021

Meanwhile, the Police Service says it has initiated steps to engage the Clerk, Marshal and leadership of Parliament to "fashion out a more proactive way of supporting Parliament in this regard within the confines of the laws of the country."