Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Manhyia South have called on the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to apologise to their Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, after what they say was an unlawful attempt to arrest him at the High Court.
The incident happened when the MP attended a hearing for a bail application involving his client, Salormey Awiti Baffoe, who is in custody over alleged links to TikToker Ghana Jollof. EOCO officers reportedly tried to arrest the MP at the court, but the attempt failed because the officer could not prove he was an EOCO operative.
At a press conference on Monday, September 28, party executives and constituents dressed in black with red head and arm bands expressed their outrage. Joseph Appiah, the Communication Officer for Manhyia South NPP, said the party will not tolerate what they see as abuse of their MP.
“We demand EOCO issues an unreserved apology to the MP for Manhyia South,” Appiah said.
According to Appiah, EOCO claims Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has ignored its invitations since February. The MP denies this, explaining that the invitations were addressed to his law firm, not him personally.
The party says the arrest attempt broke all protocols governing arrests by state security agencies and violated the MP’s rights and parliamentary privileges. Appiah warned that any further attempts to harass or arrest the MP unlawfully will be met with strong resistance.
Manhyia South NPP also called for a parliamentary inquiry into the breach of the MP’s privileges and the conduct of the EOCO officers involved. Appiah urged all state security agencies to follow due process and stop abusing politicians and ordinary citizens.
The constituency pointed to a history of political persecution in the area. Appiah mentioned Okyeame Baffour Akoto, a well-known advocate for human rights and democracy, as a figure from Manhyia South who fought against such abuses.
Despite the pressure, Appiah said the MP remains determined to defend his client’s rights in court.
The incident adds to ongoing tensions between some politicians and state security agencies in Ghana, raising questions about how officials handle arrests involving public figures. Manhyia South’s demand for an apology and a parliamentary probe highlights concerns about respect for legal processes and the protection of parliamentary privileges.
According to Joy Online.
