A female official from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) tried to arrest Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the Manhyia South MP, outside the Accra High Court Complex on September 23, 2026. The MP refused to get into the EOCO vehicle without an arrest warrant and identification, which were not shown. The standoff ended with Baffour Awuah driving away to Parliament, describing the incident as an attempted state-sponsored kidnapping and intimidation over his legal defence of a client.
The MP had appeared in court earlier that day to represent nurse Salomey Baffoe Awiti in a bail application linked to the ongoing "Ghana Jollof" case. Videos circulating online show the tense exchange between the EOCO official and the MP outside the court, where Baffour Awuah insisted on proper procedure before complying.
EOCO confirmed the attempted arrest in a statement the same day. The office said it was acting within its legal mandate and that Baffour Awuah had ignored two invitations to assist with an ongoing investigation, issued in February 2026. EOCO added that the arrest was abandoned because officers judged a counter-action could threaten public safety.
Baffour Awuah challenged EOCO’s account. He said the investigation targets his former law firm, Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, which represents SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited. The MP said he was never personally under investigation and that he responded to EOCO on February 18, 2026, notifying them of his parliamentary status and referring the matter to the Clerk of Parliament. A lawful representative of the firm cooperated with EOCO on three occasions afterward: March 4, March 18, and April 30, 2026.
The MP’s insistence that EOCO should have gone through proper parliamentary channels reflects his understanding of the legal protections MPs enjoy. James Agalga, the Majority Leader, criticised EOCO’s approach on TV3’s Agenda on September 29. He said, “The way EOCO went about the attempted arrest of Baffour Awuah was unprofessional.” Agalga stressed that EOCO should have written to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, before proceeding. “They should have written to the Speaker,” he said.
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) also expressed serious concern about the incident. The association said enforcement actions against lawyers carrying out their duties must respect constitutional protections. The Ashanti Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party condemned EOCO’s move as unlawful.
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu echoed the call for EOCO to respect parliamentary privilege. He argued that EOCO’s officers should have sought permission from the Speaker before attempting the arrest, given the MP’s legal immunities.
EOCO, however, reiterated its position that while it respects parliamentary privileges and immunities, no one, including MPs, is above the law.
The incident has added tension to the delicate relationship between law enforcement agencies and Parliament. It raises questions about how EOCO balances its investigative duties against the legal protections MPs enjoy. The fact that the MP was representing a client in court at the time of the attempted arrest adds complexity to the case.
The clash between EOCO and Baffour Awuah is unlikely to be the last, as it touches on broader issues of legal accountability and parliamentary immunity in Ghana’s political and legal systems.
According to 3News.
