International diplomatic consultant Farouk Al-Wahab has argued that the arrest of Ohene Kwame Frimpong raises major constitutional and diplomatic concerns, insisting that Parliament must be central to the handling of the matter.
Speaking on Adom TV’s , Al-Wahab stressed that Parliament represents the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people and cannot be treated as a secondary institution when one of its members is involved.
“In this matter, it is Parliament that is involved because the detainee is their member. The government stands on its own, but Parliament also stands as a sovereign institution within the Republic,” he said.
According to him, while international law enforcement cooperation remains important, the constitutional position of Parliament must be respected throughout the process.
“Parliament makes laws for the Executive. In this regard, when a Member of Parliament is involved, it is one of their own. Parliament is not just another agency, it represents the sovereignty of Ghana,” he argued.
Al-Wahab also challenged claims circulating publicly about an alleged Interpol Red Notice or international “red alert,” stating that available information points instead to a legal bench warrant issued by a United States District Court.
“People are talking about FBI Red Alert and Interpol Red Notice. That is not correct. What we are seeing is a bench warrant from a United States District Court, transmitted through legal channels,” he explained.
He further noted that international arrests often follow standard airline and border security procedures rather than dramatic global security operations.
Referencing the MP’s transit through Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, he said profiling systems and international databases routinely flag persons of interest during international travel.
“That is standard procedure, it is not evidence of a worldwide manhunt,” he stated.
On the diplomatic front, Al-Wahab argued that Parliament should have immediately engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad once news of the arrest emerged.
“If a sitting MP is arrested, Parliament should call in the Foreign Minister and activate the diplomatic corps. This is not a small matter,” he stressed.
He concluded by urging caution in public commentary, warning that misunderstandings surrounding international legal procedures could inflame tensions and mislead the public.
“The world has protocols. We must understand them before we conclude. This is not just a legal matter, it is also a matter of sovereignty and diplomacy,” he added.
