On October 1, Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah voluntarily reported himself to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) accompanied by his lawyers and some parliamentary colleagues. According to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the MP arrived at EOCO at 10:47 a.m. but was made to wait several hours before questioning began. Initially told he would be seen within 15 minutes, Mr. Awuah waited for 3 or 4 hours before being invited to the interrogation room.
After waiting for another 30 minutes, Mr. Awuah was asked to complete a personal profile form. EOCO officials subsequently left, stating they needed clearance from the Director of Operations. Investigators later returned and asked Mr. Baffour Awuah to provide an overview of a case his law firm handled for SIC Life in 2018. He complied, and the process ended at about 4 p.m. It was then that EOCO officials informed the MP that he was under arrest.
EOCO officials tapped Mr. Awuah's shoulders and officially informed him of his arrest at 4 p.m. The MP was then taken to his law office in Dzorwulu for a search. Although he cooperated with the search, some documents unrelated to the investigation, including vehicle documents, were taken. Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated that no document related to the case under investigation was taken.
After the search, Mr. Awuah returned to EOCO at about 7:30 p.m. and was again taken to an interrogation room, where he waited for about an hour. Investigators later informed him that they needed to undertake further work and would therefore detain him. The MP was subsequently taken to the cells at about 8 p.m., despite protests from his lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea.
The following morning, investigators informed Mr. Awuah that a team would be assembled to begin a second phase of the process, with the expectation that the MP could secure bail by midday. However, no investigator attended to him until after 2 p.m., when EOCO indicated that it wanted to search his residence. Mr. Baffour Awuah's detention is part of an ongoing EOCO investigation into transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
The investigation has been linked to suspected financial loss, dissipation of public funds, and money laundering, although the allegations remain under investigation. The MP reported himself to the agency on October 1 after the Accra High Court issued a warrant for his arrest. Mr. Afenyo-Markin's account comes as the Minority continues to raise concerns about the manner in which the MP has been treated by EOCO.
The Minority Leader demanded Mr. Baffour Awuah's release from EOCO's custody and an end to alleged political intimidation. EOCO is working with the Attorney General to arraign Mr. Baffour Awuah before a weekend court. The MP's detention has sparked concerns and criticisms from various stakeholders, including OccupyGhana, which has called for parliamentary scrutiny of EOCO and BNI powers.
Key points
- The MP was made to wait several hours before questioning began.
- EOCO detained Mr. Awuah after hours of questioning.
- The investigation is linked to suspected financial loss and money laundering.
