Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah Granted GH¢10 Million Bail Following EOCO Detention and Financial Misconduct Charges

An Accra High Court has granted Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, bail in the sum of GH¢10 million with two sureties after he pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state. The lawmaker voluntarily surrendered to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on October 1, 2026, to assist with an investigation involving SIC Life Savings and Loans, where he formerly served as a solicitor. Despite his voluntary appearance, Awuah was detained for two nights before his arraignment, a move that sparked significant legal and political controversy regarding the treatment of sitting legislators.

Presiding judge Justice Charity Akosua Asem mandated that the two sureties for the bail must be fellow Members of Parliament, a requirement met by the MPs for Bosome Freho and Effia. As part of his bail conditions, Awuah is required to deposit his passport with the court registry and report regularly to EOCO investigators. The prosecution, which did not oppose bail, alleges that Awuah’s dealings resulted in a financial loss of GH¢9.85 million to the state, alongside separate allegations concerning GH¢2.2 million in legal fees and tax-related offenses. The court has ordered the state to file its disclosures by October 22, 2026, ahead of a Case Management Conference scheduled for November 2.

The detention has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the leadership of Parliament. NPP presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia condemned the arrest as a "weaponization of state power," alleging a two-tiered justice system under President John Mahama’s administration. Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin also expressed grave concern, questioning whether parliamentary privileges were respected and calling for a review of procedures governing the arrest of sitting MPs. Similarly, legal practitioners including Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and former Attorney General Godfred Dame characterized the prolonged detention as a dangerous precedent and an act of political intimidation.

Following his release, Baffour Awuah maintained his innocence, telling supporters that the case is a politically motivated "witch-hunt" and asserting that "no dirt can stick" on him. While EOCO maintains that its investigation is professional and independent, legal analyst Martin Kpebu warned that the agency's conduct could erode public confidence in state institutions if parliamentary protocols continue to be bypassed. As the legal proceedings move toward the disclosure phase, the case remains a focal point for debates on the balance between investigative authority and the independence of Ghana's legislature.