MPs immune to lawsuits – Parliament

Mr Ebenezer Djietror, Director in-charge of the Legal office of Parliament says any party with a suit against a Member of Parliament (MP) should find other modes of executing it and not through Parliament.

He said Parliament is constrained by Articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution to effect service.

Mr Djietror made reference to a media publication which said the Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Joe Ghartey is running away from a court suit issued to him in regard to the sale of Ghana Telecom.

Mr Djietror in a statement explained that Mr Ghartey had travelled to Abuja on official assignment but the impression was created that he was evading the service.

He said if an aggrieved party wants to have a court case on a Member of Parliament, the party could through other channels.

Mr Ghartey appeared before the Commercial Court to testify in the litigation involving the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone International BV in 2008.

An original subpoena was issued in 2012, for Mr Ghartey to appear before the court on May 22, 2012, but the court could not hear him because a witness from the Ministry of Communication was by then in the witness box.

Mr Ghartey was, therefore, granted leave to absent himself until the court was ready for him.

Source: GNA