The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has expressed concern over the attempted arrest of Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) at the Accra High Court Complex on September 23, 2026. The MP, who is also a lawyer, was at the court premises to represent a client in his professional capacity.
According to the GBA, videos circulating on social media showed another lawyer, Mr Enoch Anhwere Afoakwa, complaining that he had been assaulted by a woman who EOCO subsequently confirmed to be an officer of the agency. The Association noted that although no individual was above the law, investigations or enforcement actions involving members of the legal profession must comply with constitutional safeguards and applicable legal procedures.
The GBA stressed that lawyers played an important role in the administration of justice and the protection of citizens' rights, adding that any action that appeared to interfere with their ability to perform their professional duties risked undermining confidence in the justice system and the rule of law. The Association recalled comments made by its President at the 2025 Annual GBA Conference in Wa, where she raised concerns about incidents involving lawyers in the performance of their professional duties.
The GBA President had said lawyers should be free to defend clients of their choice without being subjected to heckling or other forms of obstruction, warning that such conduct could discourage lawyers from taking up pro bono cases. The Association also cited remarks made by its President during its virtual Mid-Year Conference on June 5, 2026, concerning an earlier incident involving former GBA Vice President, Justice Minka Premo, and a female lawyer.
According to the GBA, the two lawyers had gone to the defence of a client at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) but were arrested and detained overnight. The Association said the female lawyer, who was a nursing mother, was separated from her baby and was initially unable to breastfeed the child. This incident raised concerns about the treatment of lawyers in the performance of their duties.
The GBA called on EOCO and other state institutions to ensure that actions taken in the discharge of their mandates were consistent with due process, fairness and respect for the rights of all persons involved. The Association emphasized that the rule of law required not only that justice be done, but also that it be seen to be done.
The GBA further stressed that the independence of the legal profession was a cornerstone of democratic societies and should be protected. The Association's statement was made in response to the attempted arrest of MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah and the assault of lawyer Mr Enoch Anhwere Afoakwa by an EOCO officer.
Key points
- The Ghana Bar Association condemns EOCO's attempted arrest of MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at the Accra High Court Complex.
- The Association stresses the importance of due process and fairness in investigations and enforcement actions involving lawyers.
- The GBA emphasizes the need to protect the independence of the legal profession.
