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MPs to demand security during emoluments discussion

He clarified that MPs are not the least interested in having Policemen follow them wherever they go; rather, they are interested in Police protection in their homes.

 

The demand according to the Majority Chief Whip and MP for Asawase, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has become necessary following the murder of the Abuakwa North MP, J.B. Danquah in his home a few months ago.

“We believe that in this year’s emoluments discussion, we are going to put this on the table to insist that it should be part of our working conditions because currently, it’s not included in our working conditions and that is why I believe that the police have been dancing around saying that they don’t have the men, but for those that have been stated in their conditions of service, they find the men for them,” he said during an interview on Radio Ghana.

The Majority Chief Whip bemoaned the posturing of the security agencies who keep complaining that they do not have the personnel to provide the needed security for MPs.

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“When I look at Article 71, the emoluments committee, it is clearly stated that the Office of the President, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Justices of the Superior Courts will be provided with security and 24/7 at their residence. This is conspicuously missing in that of the Members of Parliament and I think that that is part of the problem,” he remarked.

Since the murder of J.B. Danquah, MPs have intensified calls for the state to provide them with private security.

They argue that some MPS have over the years been attacked severally in their homes and therefore, urgent steps must be taken to prevent another murder from occurring.

Interim measures

Muntaka Mubarak disclosed that the leadership of Parliament has in the interim put some measures in place to protect MPs while they demand a review in their conditions of service.

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He said addresses of all MPs have been collated and given to the Police, while the phone numbers of all top Police Commanders in the Greater Accra Region and its environs have also been collated and given to MPs.

“The understanding we had with the Police was that henceforth, wherever you are, please try to introduce yourself to the nearest Police Commander and their patrol team will patrol your area on their usual rounds,” he explained.

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