Private legal practitioner, Martin Luther Kpebu, has praised the Speaker of Parliament’s decision to release two lawmakers to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), citing it as a positive sign of growth in Ghana’s democratic governance.
The two legislators are going to the aid the security agency to carry some ongoing investigations.
He says the development shows Ghana is making headway in its democracy, considering how difficult it was to hold Members of Parliament accountable in the past.
Commenting on the matter on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Thursday, April 03, 2025, the lawyer stated that: “It’s a further affirmation of the fact that we are making giant strides in our constitutional governance. Those years, it was almost impossible to serve a Member of Parliament.”
He cited instances where MPs avoided service with excuses of attending to Parliamentary duties.
“If an MP owed you money and you had to go to court, every attempt to serve the MP, you’ll be told that he is on his way to Parliament, or attending at Parliament or on his way from Parliament.
“There is another case: An MP was going through a divorce and he didn’t want his wife to get any of the properties,” he added, revealing that the MP gave the lawyers a lot of frustration.
“Every time he was on his way either to Parliament or was returning or he was in a Committee of Parliament.”
Kpebu’s comments come on the back of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s agreement to the NIB’s request to release two legislators, Mustapha Yussif and Kwame Asare Obeng, also known as A Plus, for investigations.
The MPs have been directed to appear before NIB officials for a preliminary interaction on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10:00am at the Sir Emmanuel Charles Quist Conference Room in Parliament.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the Director-General of the National Intelligence Bureau, dated April Wednesday, April 02, 2025.
“Please refer to your letter dated the 25th of March 2025 in respect of a request for the release of Mustapha Yussif, MP for Yagaba Kubori Constituency, and Kwame Asare Obeng (A Plus), MP for Gomoa Central Constituency.
“I am directed by the Rt Hon Speaker, to inform you that having regard to the limitations of Articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, the existing protocols established with the security and intelligence agencies, and also the public interest, Parliament, in principle, agrees to the request in the above matter,” portions of the letter read.
The letter signed by the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, added that, “Accordingly, the Rt. Hon. Speaker has directed the Honourable Members to make themselves available for the preliminary interaction with your officials in Parliament, on Monday, 7th April 2025 at 10.00am at the Sir. Emmanuel Charles Quist Conference Room, Office of the Speaker.”
