Outgoing Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has cautioned politicians against using Parliament as a platform to intimidate law enforcement agencies or interfere with investigations into alleged criminal conduct.
Mr Ayariga said holding political office should not place anyone above the law, stressing that Parliament’s role in passing laws must be matched by respect for the institutions responsible for enforcing them.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Monday, August 24, 2026, he said politicians should allow law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties without attempting to give investigations a political interpretation.
“Crime is crime. We believe that we pass laws in this House so that they will be enforced outside there,” he stated.
According to Mr Ayariga, Parliament should not be used to shield politicians from prosecution or to intimidate investigators who are performing their constitutional duties.
He argued that politicians should not consider themselves a privileged class capable of committing offences without facing the consequences of the law.
The outgoing Majority Leader also questioned what he described as apparent double standards in the treatment of alleged criminal conduct involving ordinary citizens and politicians.
He noted that individuals accused of stealing relatively small amounts or items are often prosecuted, while politicians facing allegations involving millions of cedis sometimes protest when investigative agencies take action against them.
Mr Ayariga urged Members of Parliament to respect the independence of law enforcement institutions and refrain from using parliamentary proceedings to undermine ongoing investigations.
He further called on Parliament to respect the independence of the judiciary and avoid commenting on or interfering with judicial decisions.
His comments followed concerns raised over a judge’s decision to cancel a legal vacation to facilitate the expeditious hearing of a case involving an accused person.
Mr Ayariga argued that an accused person who is confident of their innocence should welcome an opportunity for the matter to be determined promptly rather than seek to delay proceedings.
He maintained that Parliament must allow both the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to independently perform their constitutional responsibilities.
He said respecting the rule of law was essential to ensuring that Ghana’s criminal justice system operated fairly, regardless of the political status of persons under investigation.
