We would arrest K.T Hammond over drill ship sale - Asiedu Nketia

The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will arrest and prosecute a former deputy Energy Minister for his role in the sale of Ghana’s drill ship as soon as he loses his seat and its attendant immunity.

General Secretary of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketia says the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahiru Hammond, will stand trial if he loses his seat in elections this year.

A government white paper on a report presented by the judgment debt commission directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to get Mr. Hammond to account for the difference of $900,000 which went untraced following the sale of the drill ship for $24 million to defray a $19.5 million debt owed Societe General bank.

The latter has since sued government to prevent EOCO’s investigations.

But speaking at the launch of an outreach programme for Volta caucus nationwide at Fumso in the Ashanti Region, Mr Asiedu Nketia dropped hints government is waiting for Mr Hammond to lose his seat and face the law.

Private legal practitioner Samson Lardy Anyenini in a post on Facebook, suggested Mr Hammond can be arrested and prosecuted whilst an MP if the state believes it has a compelling case against him.

"MPs have immunity from arrest/service of court processes on them while attending/returning from the business of parliament. They don't have immunity from arrest and PROSECUTION," he wrote.

Commenting on his post, law professor, H Kwasi Prempeh said, " Sometimes we behave as if we invented Parliaments or that we are the only country with MPs or parliamentary privileges and immunities. MPs are arrested and charged and prosecuted and jailed for crimes elsewhere all the time, with no offence to parliamentary immunities or privileges. We have become way too special, especially in our reading and interpretation of plain legal texts."

The NPP MP for Bawku Central, Adamu Dramani Sakande was arrested and prosecuted and convicted and sentenced to a prison term under the NDC government.

Asiedu Nketia made his comments at a gathering of Voltarians from various parts of Ghana to inaugurate a special door-to-door campaign to increase the gains of the NDC in settler communities in the Ashanti Region.

Held in Mr Hammonds Adansi Asokwa Constituency, speakers including Mr Asiedu Nketia stressed the need for the party to increase their votes for the President and vote out the incumbent MP.

Deputy Regional Minister, Andy Osei Okrah, assured supporters of the NDC in settler communities any attempt to intimidate them will be quelled by the use of the security agencies.

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com