Outgoing Majority Leader and Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has urged politicians not to criticise law enforcement agencies for prosecuting them over alleged criminal conduct.

He said politicians should not consider themselves a special class of citizens who should be exempted from the enforcement of the law.

The Bawku Central MP made the comments on the floor of Parliament on Monday, August 24, in response to concerns raised by the Minority Leader about the treatment of some politicians by law enforcement agencies.

He said Parliament passes laws for enforcement and should not seek to intimidate or discredit law enforcement agencies when they perform their duties.

“I also don’t believe that anybody should try to use this chamber or any platform to intimidate the law enforcement agencies when they are cracking down on criminal conduct, be the conduct of politicians, of ordinary armed robbers, of any other citizen. Crime is crime,” he said.

According to him, the same standards applied to ordinary citizens accused of stealing should also apply to politicians accused of financial crimes.

He cited cases where people are jailed for stealing goats, fowls and rams, arguing that politicians should not expect different treatment when they are accused of stealing public funds.

“When those who steal goats and fowls and guinea fowls are sent to jail because they stole goats and fowls and guinea fowls… when we steal millions of Ghana cedis as politicians, we think that we belong to a special class,” he said.

Ayariga also defended freedom of speech in Ghana, saying citizens and politicians remain free to express their views both inside and outside Parliament.

He, however, cautioned against giving political coloration to law enforcement actions, saying such conduct could undermine the country’s progress.