The MP for Madina Francis-Xavier Sosu was on Friday (4 November 2022) convicted and fined GHC 2,400 for reckless and inconsiderate driving.
The lawmaker was arrested on Thursday for driving in the middle of the road risking the lives of pedestrians and other road users around the Airport by-pass in a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicle with registration number GB-9776-21.
The vehicle was impounded by the police and he was arraigned before the La District Court on the charges of reckless and inconsiderate driving, driving in the middle of the road facing oncoming traffic and causing danger to other road users.
The court further directed him to remove the front siren lights which had been “unlawfully fitted on his vehicle,” an official police statement said.
After his conviction, he subsequently paid the fine and the police have supervised the removal of the unlawfully installed lights and the vehicle has since been released to him.
“We would like to entreat all drivers to be mindful of the safety of other road users at all times to prevent avoidable accidents and their associated deaths and injuries, especially as the Christmas season approaches.
“The police remain committed to ensuring safety and security on our roads as we deliver on our core mandate of protecting life and property as well as maintaining law and order in the country,” the statement added.
Denial
In a Facebook post ahead of the conviction, the MP said: “The reports making rounds are not entirely accurate. I was cited for traffic offences yesterday, Thursday, November 3, 2022, on my way from Parliament to an event in the constituency.
“This morning, I was in the La Court to have the matter dealt with. I am currently in Parliament performing my parliamentary duties. “
He added: “Again, I am not under arrest. It seems to me that the news of my arrest is more important to the Ghana Police Service than their core mandate. For instance, how many persons were cited for traffic offences yesterday? How many of them are in the news? Please, let’s get serious as a country.”
A brush with the law
In 2021, the court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the opposition MP over his failure to appear in court for the third consecutive time for unlawfully blocking a public road and the destruction of public property.
The MP joined his constituents in Ayi-Mensah, Danfa and Otinibi in a demonstration over poor roads on 25 October 2021.
During the protest, some of the protestors allegedly blocked roads, burnt tyres and destroyed some public property.
Following the demonstration, the police were unsuccessful in their attempts to arrest the MP, with Parliament upholding its privileges and requesting proper procedures for MPs who must face criminal prosecution, reports the Daily Graphic then..
It is the case of the police that Sosu had questions to answer in respect of the criminal act the protestors engaged in, for which they tried to invite the MP to assist with investigations.
However, the MP had been on the defence that he followed due process in organising the protest and, therefore, there was no basis for his arrest.
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