Outgoing Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has urged politicians to stop using Parliament as a platform to pressure, intimidate or undermine law enforcement agencies investigating suspected criminal activity.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Monday, August 24, 2026, Mr Ayariga said political office should not confer immunity from criminal investigations or place elected officials above the law.
He stressed that Parliament’s responsibility to enact laws must be accompanied by a willingness among politicians to respect the institutions mandated to enforce those laws.
“Crime is crime. We believe that we pass laws in this House so that they will be enforced outside there,” he said.
Mr Ayariga cautioned Members of Parliament against portraying legitimate law enforcement actions as political persecution simply because investigations involve public officials or politically exposed persons.
He argued that such conduct could undermine public confidence in law enforcement and weaken efforts to combat crime.
According to him, MPs should allow investigators to perform their duties without attempting to discredit them or use parliamentary privilege to interfere with ongoing investigations.
No special treatment for politicians
Mr Ayariga also questioned what he described as an apparent disparity in how criminal allegations involving ordinary citizens and politicians are treated.
He noted that individuals accused of stealing items of relatively little value can face prosecution, yet politicians confronted with allegations involving significantly larger sums sometimes object to being investigated.
He said occupying political office should not create a privileged category of citizens who are exempt from accountability.
The outgoing Majority Leader also called on Parliament to respect the independence of the judiciary and avoid interfering in judicial proceedings or decisions.
His comments followed concerns raised in the House over a judge’s decision to cancel a legal vacation in order to facilitate the swift hearing of a case involving an accused person.
Mr Ayariga argued that an accused person who is confident of their innocence should have no reason to oppose an expedited hearing of their case.
He maintained that the constitutional separation of powers requires Parliament to allow both the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to carry out their respective responsibilities without political interference.
Mr Ayariga said respect for these institutions was essential to maintaining the rule of law and ensuring that political office does not become a shield against accountability.
