Hon. Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye the former member of parliament for the Odododiodio constituency has recounts his experience at the hands of the Akufo-Addo government in 2020.
According to, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, in 2020 he was handcuffed and put in the boot of a car as a sitting member of parliament.
His comment comes amidst widespread brouhaha from the NPP over the raid on Hon. Ntim Fordjour’s home.
Members of the Minority quickly mobilized to the MP’s residence, insisting that the NIB operatives lacked a warrant and legal basis for the arrest.
The Minority in Parliament described the attempted arrest as an illegal and politically motivated attempt by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB).
The incident took place at the MP’s Spintex residence in Accra on Wednesday, April 9, following allegations he made concerning two suspicious aircraft that allegedly landed at Kotoka International Airport, carrying drugs and large sums of cash.
Speaking on Channel One TV, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye narrated, “Me, sitting here, went through a much more harrowing ordeal under their government. I was handcuffed and put in the boot of a car as a sitting Member of Parliament on 7th December 2020 and dumped at the Regional Police Command.
I collapsed I don’t know what happened for seven hours. Fifty-two of my party officials were arrested, and my polling agent was shot and killed. Up till today five years down the line—my boys are still in court, and those who did the shooting are walking free”.
He continued, “Sometimes we need to say it as it is. What happened yesterday is not news. The Member of Parliament is not even in Parliament at this moment. The invitation through the Speaker only applies when there is a parliamentary sitting.
The fact that you are an MP does not absolve you from arrest if you commit a crime. It is only a privilege, and that privilege is exercised through the Speaker.”
Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye further explained the situation at the home of Ntim Fordjour, saying, “What happened yesterday was a drama. The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin asked him whether he has not had an agreement with government officials on how to exercise this right. He had an agreement with our people that anytime any of his members were needed, he would voluntarily present them.
I’m saying that the invitation to an MP through the Speaker applies only when Parliament is in session or when the MP is in their constituency carrying out parliamentary duties. You cannot be sitting in Accra as the MP for Assin South and claim that you’re working in Parliament”, he stated.
Watch the video below:
“I was handcuffed and put in the boot of a car as a sitting MP”
The NDC MP for the Odododiodio constituency, Hon. Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye recounts his experience at the hands of the previous NPP administration in 2020, amidst widespread agitation from the NPP over the raid on… pic.twitter.com/GBLfCoRvnE
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) April 10, 2025
