Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah Detained and Charged with Money Laundering Following SIC Life Investigation

Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, has been formally charged with money laundering and causing financial loss to the state following an intensive investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). The MP voluntarily reported to EOCO headquarters on October 1, 2026, after an Accra High Court issued a warrant for his arrest and authorized a search for relevant documents. The investigation centers on alleged unauthorized financial transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited, including a disputed GH""2.2 million payment to his former law firm and a broader recovery effort for an investment valued between GH""10 million and GH""14 million. The MP was detained for questioning for over seven hours, with his legal team raising concerns after he was held overnight.

The MP's lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, has vigorously defended his client, asserting that the allegations are unfounded and that the transactions in question were legitimate legal services rendered to recover investments for SIC Life. Atta Akyea criticized the overnight detention, noting that the MP had been cooperative throughout the process and had already provided necessary documentation. He further raised confidentiality concerns when EOCO officials escorted Baffour Awuah to search his former law firm and residence, arguing that the search could compromise unrelated client files. Despite these objections, EOCO executed the search warrants as part of their evidence-gathering process, which includes probing suspected criminal conspiracy and tax-related offenses.

The case has expanded beyond the Manhyia South MP, with reports indicating that the investigation now implicates Amma Frimpomaa Dwumah, the former Managing Director of SIC Life Savings and Loans, and another unnamed NPP legislator from the Ashanti Region. The investigation took a dramatic turn on the day of the MP's questioning when security officials arrested three individuals, including a woman, for flying drones over the EOCO headquarters without authorization. This security breach occurred shortly after the High Court had validated EOCO's claims that it had exhausted all reasonable means to secure the MP's voluntary attendance after invitations dating back to February 2026 were allegedly ignored.

Political reactions to the case have been sharp and divided. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused EOCO of political persecution, urging the agency to focus on drug trafficking kingpins rather than targeting opposition figures. Conversely, Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu defended the legality of the operation, dismissing claims that an earlier attempted arrest on September 23 constituted a ""kidnapping"" attempt. Ofosu emphasized that parliamentary status should not serve as a shield against legal accountability, asserting that all citizens are equal before the law. Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai also clarified that the escalation to an arrest warrant was a necessary step following the MP's persistent failure to respond to official invitations.

As the investigation continues, EOCO has urged the public to refrain from speculation and premature conclusions regarding the culpability of Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. The agency has pledged to conduct the inquiry with professionalism and according to due process, reminding stakeholders that the allegations remain unproven in court. The next phase of the investigation will likely focus on reconciling the conflicting accounts of the GH""10 million investment recovery and determining the degree of involvement of the other named figures in what investigators are describing as a triangle scheme involving public funds.