You seek sanctuary against kidnappers. That is how Baffour Awuah has defended retreat to Parliament following criticism that lawmakers ran into the chamber for safety during recent security concerns.
According to the MP, Parliament is constitutionally protected and serves as a place of refuge when members feel threatened, especially with rising reports of kidnapping and attacks on public figures. He said seeking sanctuary in Parliament is not an act of cowardice but a legitimate security measure backed by parliamentary privileges.
Details from MyJoyOnline indicate Baffour Awuah was responding to public backlash after some MPs retreated into the parliamentary chamber during a tense standoff outside Parliament House. Critics described the move as drama, but the lawmaker insists safety of members is paramount.
He explained that Parliament has its own security architecture and immunity provisions that prevent arbitrary arrest or harm within its precincts, making it a lawful sanctuary when threats emerge.
Parliamentary privileges in Ghana are grounded in Article 115 to 117 of the 1992 Constitution which grants freedom of speech, immunity from
