Ghana Bar Association and Legal Experts Condemn EOCO’s Attempted Arrest of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at Accra High Court

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA), legal scholars, and political figures have united in condemning the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for its recent attempt to arrest the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. The incident, which occurred on September 23, 2026, at the Accra High Court premises, unfolded while the MP was acting in his capacity as a lawyer for a client in the ongoing "Ghana Jollof" case. Critics have labeled the operation as a breach of professional independence and a threat to the sanctity of the judiciary, raising urgent concerns about the methods employed by state investigative agencies.

The GBA, in a statement signed by President Efua Ghartey and National Secretary Kwaku Gyau Baffour, emphasized that maintaining the professional independence of lawyers during court proceedings is essential to uphold the judiciary. This sentiment was echoed by former MP and lawyer Inusah Fuseini, who described the court environment as "too volatile" for such an operation and questioned the legality of a warrantless arrest when no crime had been committed in the officers' presence. Legal analyst and lecturer Lenin Nicholas Anane Agyei further argued that the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act (2010) does not criminalize a refusal to honor an invitation, suggesting that EOCO lacked the necessary legal grounds to attempt a forced detention without a court-issued warrant served through the Speaker of Parliament.

From a political and security perspective, the confrontation has sparked fears regarding the state of Ghana’s democracy. Dr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah of the NPP warned that the aggressive tactics utilized by EOCO officials—which included a risky approach to the MP’s moving vehicle—were reminiscent of the repressive PNDC era of the 1980s. Security consultant Richard Kumadoe also critiqued the agency's conduct, noting a significant breakdown in communication and professional standards. Kumadoe highlighted that the officers reportedly failed to properly identify themselves, creating a chaotic situation that could have been avoided had established protocols for engaging public officials and legal practitioners been followed.

For his part, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has strongly denied the allegations underpinning the EOCO investigation, which reportedly involve claims of GHS 2.2 million in "excessive legal fees" paid to his law firm, SBA and Partners. The MP dismissed these assertions as baseless, refuting any financial transactions with the Managing Director of SIC Life Savings and Loans or involvement in a purported judicial property sale. As EOCO reviews video evidence of the standoff to determine its next course of action, the incident remains a flashpoint in the national debate over the balance between investigative powers, parliamentary privileges, and the protection of the rule of law.