Audio By Carbonatix
The Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency says the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is setting a bad precedent with the arrest of two government officials.
“Are we documentation examiners? Are we fraud examiners? On what basis did we say the document is compromised,” Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Chairman of PAC, James Klutse Avedzi, on Monday, ordered the arrest of two officials who were picked up by Parliament’s police after they were cited for irregularities at the Sefwi Akontombra Assembly in the Western region.
Isaac Akowaah, a former District Finance Officer of the assembly and James Esilfie, the current District Finance Officer, were accused of conniving to lie to the committee over irregularities cited in their report, hence their arrest.
In an interview on Accra-based Citi FM, Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned the PAC’s order for the arrest of two district assembly officials accused of lying to the Committee.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin
“We shouldn’t set a bad precedent. Under criminal jurisprudence, due process is essential, therefore to me, as a matter of law, if there were issues regarding the testimonies, Avedzi should have filed a complaint or go to the police to file a complaint,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin added that Mr Avedzi could even compromise the committee’s mandate by “overzealously acting in a manner that will abuse people’s rights” because certain conclusions “require proper investigative evaluation.”
Alexander Afenyo-Markin
“We shouldn’t set a bad precedent. Under criminal jurisprudence, due process is essential, therefore to me, as a matter of law, if there were issues regarding the testimonies, Avedzi should have filed a complaint or go to the police to file a complaint,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin added that Mr Avedzi could even compromise the committee’s mandate by “overzealously acting in a manner that will abuse people’s rights” because certain conclusions “require proper investigative evaluation.”
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Duvor Klu, Hua crowned champions as J30 Accra Week 1 concludes
11 minutes -
Gov’t to make rural telephony services cheaper by first quarter of 2027 – Sam George
34 minutes -
National Chief Imam remains Ghana’s strongest symbol of interfaith harmony – Mahama Ayariga
50 minutes -
Gov’t to upgrade all rural telephony networks to 4G capability – Sam George
1 hour -
‘We’ve never seen a CJ in our judiciary system who is everywhere like MTN’ – Janet Nabla
1 hour -
Lawyers, prosecutors fume over abandoned 26-year-old Upper West High court project
1 hour -
At least two dead in blast at Bolivia military barracks
2 hours -
Tate brothers officially indicted with trafficking and sex crimes in Romania
2 hours -
US envoys arrive in Moscow ahead of Ukraine talks
2 hours -
Health Minister to brief media on Free Primary Healthcare programme on Monday
2 hours -
‘It was inappropriate to make that comparison’ – Dr Pumpuni Asante on CJ’s SOE comment
2 hours -
Photos: Final-day shopping continues at Joy FM Back-to-School Discount Fair
3 hours -
Darkey and Frimpong set up J30 Accra boys’ doubles final
3 hours -
When war takes more than territory: The human cost of conflict
3 hours -
Review SHS placement policy to give more BECE candidates access – Kwesi Kwarteng
3 hours