The Kaneshie District Court yesterday adjourned to November 16, the case involving Francis Xavier Sosu, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina.
This was after the police received a letter from Parliament indicating the MP had travelled outside the country to perform official duties.
Mr Sosu was expected to appear before the court presided over by Kofi Oheneba-Kuffour to answer to the criminal charges leveled against him by the Ghana Police Service, but he could not show up.
The MP was represented by lawyer Victor Kojogah Adawuda, while the Ghana Police Service was represented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sylvester Asare, during the hearing which was held in chambers.
Mr Sosu is facing criminal charges for resisting police arrest after he allegedly breached the law during a demonstration last month by his constituents, aimed at calling the attention of government to the deplorable nature of roads in the constituency.
He was said to have led protesters to unlawfully block roads and burn tyres, leading to the destruction of properties.
Mr Sosu allegedly failed to respond to invitations by the security personnel to assist in investigations.
The police’s first attempt to arrest the MP a day after the demonstration failed as he was supposedly whisked away in a vehicle by unknown personsafter church service.
According to Mr Sosu, though the constituents had blocked roads during the demonstrators, there was no need for any arrest because he had followed due process in organizing the protest.
Mr. Sosu filed a formal complaint to Parliament, accusing Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Isaac Kojo Asante, the Greater Accra Regional Operations Commander, and ACP Eric Winful, Adentan Divisional Commander of contempt of Parliament.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, referred the complaint against the two police officers to the Privileges Committee of Parliament.
Many constituents, clad in red and some members of the oppositions National Democratic Congress (NDC), were spotted by the Ghanaian Times at the court premises in solidarity with the lawmaker.
The police on November 8, 2021, obtained criminal summons to arraign the MP in court.
The law maker has been charged for obstruction of public highway, causing danger to road users and damage among others.
It would be recalled that the Ghanaian Times, reported in its Tuesday, October 26, 2021, issue, that resident of five communities in the La Nkwantanang–Madina Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, who demonstrated over the deplorable nature of roads in the community, clashed with armed police personnel.
The protesters blocked roads linking Ayi Mensah section of Adentan-Aburi highway, burnt lorry tyres and firewood thus preventing commuters from using the road.
The demonstration dubbed, “Fix Our Roads” was organised by Mr Sosu and the residents/demonstrators were mobilised from Adokweiman, Adoteiman, Otinibi, Danfa and Ayi Mensah.
A police source said the conveners had obtained police permit and were given protection by the security personnel, but the demonstrators failed to adhere to guidelines set by the police.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
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