The Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina constituency Mr. Francis-Xavier Sosu has failed to show up in court for the second time in a row at the Kaneshie District Court forcing the judge to adjourn sitting to 29 November 2021.
The police have filed charges against Mr. Sosu over “unlawful road blockade and destruction of public property” during a demonstration in his constituency.
The lawyer representing the accused person, Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, told the court on Tuesday 16 November 2021 that his client pursuant to a letter from the Speaker of Parliament served on the court at the last sitting is still out of the country and is expected to return next week.
He therefore prayed the court to adjourn sitting to 29 November, by which time, he is certain his client would have returned to the jurisdiction.
ASP Sylvester Asare who represented the police told Magistrate Oheneba Kufuor that the police have not received any communication to indicate the inability of the accused person to attend court.
Magistrate Kufuor then indicated that he has a letter on his file signed by the Deputy Clerk to Parliament, Eric Owusu Mensah which reads: “Please refer to your letter No. KDC/202/22 and dated 9th November, 2021 which attached a Hearing Notice on the above matter for service on the Honourable Member for Madina Constituency, Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu”.
The letter further read; “I have been directed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to bring to the attention of the Hon Court that the Hon. Member is attending at the proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament which commenced on Tuesday 26th October 2021 and is also currently representing Parliament and the Country in a conference in the United States of America”.
“Pursuant to article 117 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, I am unable to bring the service to the attention of the Member of Parliament as requested” the letter dated the 10th of November 2021 indicated.
ASP Sylvester Asare after the court read the letter, requested for a certified true copy of the said letter for police records.
The court subsequently adjourned sitting to 29 November 2021.
