Ghana's Majority Leader, James Agalga, has expressed concerns over the Economic and Organised Crime Office's (EOCO) attempted arrest of Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. Agalga described the approach adopted by EOCO as unprofessional. The incident occurred on September 23, 2026, at the Accra High Court Complex. Baffour Awuah, a lawyer, had appeared to represent a client in a bail application related to the ongoing "Ghana Jollof" case.
According to Agalga, Members of Parliament enjoy some level of immunity under the Standing Orders of Parliament. He stressed that EOCO should have channeled its request through the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, rather than approaching the MP directly. Agalga's comments were made on TV3's Agenda on September 29. The incident involved a female EOCO official approaching Baffour Awuah outside the court and asking him to accompany her to EOCO headquarters.
Baffour Awuah insisted on identification and an arrest warrant, which he claimed were not produced. He offered to drive himself in his own vehicle, but the EOCO official reportedly insisted he board the EOCO vehicle. A confrontation ensued around his vehicle, after which Baffour Awuah drove off to Parliament. He later described the encounter as an attempted state-sponsored kidnapping and an attempt to intimidate him over his defence of his client.
EOCO confirmed the attempted arrest in a statement on September 23. The Office claimed it was acting in lawful discharge of its duties and that Baffour Awuah had ignored two invitations issued in February 2026 to assist in an ongoing investigation. However, Baffour Awuah disputed EOCO's account, stating he was never personally the subject of investigation, but rather his former law firm, which represents a company under investigation.
Baffour Awuah claimed he responded to EOCO's invitations on February 18, 2026, informing them of his new role as an MP and referring the matter to the Clerk of Parliament. He stated that a lawful representative of the firm subsequently cooperated with EOCO on three occasions. The incident has drawn reactions from various stakeholders, including the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Ashanti Regional branch of the NPP.
The GBA expressed grave concern, stating that enforcement actions involving lawyers executing their duties must adhere to constitutional guarantees. The Ashanti Regional branch of the NPP condemned the move as unlawful. Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu also argued that EOCO should have gone through the Speaker, citing parliamentary privilege.
EOCO has maintained that while it respects parliamentary privileges and immunities, being an MP does not place anyone beyond the law. The incident highlights the complexities surrounding the balance between parliamentary immunity and law enforcement actions in Ghana. Key issues include the limits of parliamentary privilege and the proper procedures for law enforcement agencies to follow when interacting with MPs.
Key points
- EOCO's approach was deemed unprofessional by Agalga.
- Baffour Awuah disputed EOCO's account of the incident.
- The incident drew sharp reactions from various stakeholders.
