The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has alleged that officials who identified themselves as officers of the Economic and Organised Crime Office attempted to take him into custody shortly after he left the Accra High Court.
Honourable Awuah also recounted how an encounter with a woman identifying herself as an Economic and Organised Crime Office official ended with him driving away from the court premises.
Addressing the media with the Minority Caucus, Honourable Awuah explained that after speaking to journalists about the bail proceedings involving his client, Salomey Ewurabena Baffoe, a woman approached him and informed him that she has been instructed to take him to EOCO.
The Manhyia South MP indicated that he immediately questioned why he had not received a formal invitation if his presence was required at the agency, particularly after the woman claimed he had previously been invited but failed to attend. He rejected that assertion and requested evidence of the alleged invitation, as well as documentation showing that the woman was authorised to take him away.
“If you want me at EOCO, why don’t you invite me? Then she claimed I had been previously invited, but I failed to show up. And I said, ‘That cannot be true.’”
Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah,
According to Honourable Awuah, he initially offered a voluntary alternative by proposing to travel to the EOCO office in his own vehicle and follow the woman there. He alleged, however, that the woman refused that arrangement and indicated that she would instead compel him to enter the vehicle she had brought.
The MP further disclosed that he asked to see an arrest warrant or other legal authority for the proposed action, but claimed that none was produced during the encounter.
“She couldn’t produce any evidence that she was indeed from EOCO. I also wanted to know the arrest warrant.”
Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah,
Describing the situation from his perspective, Honourable Awuah indicated that the uncertainty surrounding the woman’s authority led him to believe that he could be exposed to danger if he remained at the location. He therefore decided to leave the court premises and drive towards a place where he believed he would be secure, while also considering his responsibilities as a legislator, lawyer and father.
The Manhyia South MP linked his decision to his responsibility to protect himself, his family and the constituents he represents, while also continuing to defend Baffoe in the ongoing case. Honourable Awuah subsequently drove towards Parliament, where he had parliamentary committee responsibilities to attend to, while colleagues from the Minority Caucus rallied around him.
Minority Demands Scrutiny Of EOCO Conduct At High Court
The Minority in Parliament has called for scrutiny of the reported attempt by officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office to take Manhyia South MP Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah into custody within the precincts of the Accra High Court.
Addressing the press after the incident, Minority Leader Honourable Alexander Afenyo-Markin argued that the circumstances should attract the attention of the Chief Justice, particularly because the encounter occurred immediately after the lawmaker had appeared before the court as legal counsel for a client.
Honourable Afenyo-Markin questioned whether an investigative body should enter court premises specifically to confront or arrest a person who has just participated in judicial proceedings.
He therefore urged the Chief Justice and the justice delivery system to examine the circumstances and establish the appropriate boundaries for investigative operations within court premises.
The Minority Leader referenced an earlier incident involving businessman Kwabena Okyere Darko, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, where he alleged that EOCO personnel had similarly positioned themselves around police premises while the businessman was being questioned.
According to Honourable Afenyo-Markin, police officers on that occasion prevented the EOCO personnel from entering the premises before the businessman was later intercepted outside. Drawing attention to the latest encounter, he described the reported conduct as an issue requiring institutional examination and argued that state investigative powers must be exercised within the limits of the law.
The Minority Leader stressed that the caucus was not opposed to investigations or accountability by state agencies, but insisted that lawful processes must accompany the exercise of those powers.
“We are not against accountability; we always say this. We are not against any state institution going about its lawful duties as enshrined in any enactment or the Constitution.”
Honourable Alexander Afenyo-Markin
Furthermore, Honourable Afenyo-Markin urged the government to examine what he described as excesses by public officials and to ensure that state institutions operate without intimidating citizens. He appealed directly to President John Mahama to consider the implications of such incidents for his administration’s legacy and to bring government appointees to order.
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