Freddie Blay wants MP’s theft case investigated

The Chairman of the Privileges Committee of Parliament, Freddie Blay, says parliament must investigate the indictment charges against the MP for Upper-Denkyira.

Prosecutors in the US last week declared the MP, Nana Amoakoh wanted for allegedly stealing over one million dollars from a Brooklyn-based limousine company, which he worked for in the US.

The spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Jennifer Kushner has told Joy News that an official request for his extradition to the US to face criminal charges will soon be sent to the Government of Ghana.

The Majority Leader, Felix Owusu-Adjapong said parliament has not been notified and will wait for a formal communication from the US on the MP before deciding on the next line of action.

However Mr. Blay, who is also first Deputy Speaker says even before it is formally informed of the indictment charges, parliament will do its reputation a lot of good if it initiates its own investigations into the theft case against the MP.

“It is important for Parliament to look at it…I believe Parliament is always proactive. In this case it is Privileges, and Privileges means you should also be in position to protect the image of Parliament. Assuming that case is true, assuming indeed the honourable member has as a matter of fact been involved in that fraud against any government, any individual and so forth, and the House, there are facts to that effect, why not Parliament would be proactive and we would like to question the honourable member and so forth and find out a few facts about it and if it becomes necessary that the man is being impeached of some privileges in the house, why not Parliament will take the relevant step.”

Meanwhile, the Attorney General's Department has said it was yet to receive a formal request for the MP's extradition and declined comment on the issue.