An Accra High Court has granted the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) a warrant to arrest the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. This follows an application by EOCO's lawyers, who told the court that they have exhausted reasonable means of securing the legislator's voluntary attendance. The court also granted a search and seizure operation for relevant documents.
The warrant marks a major escalation in a standoff that has been playing out since February 2026. EOCO is investigating alleged financial irregularities at SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited. The Office says it invited the MP twice in February in his capacity as Senior Partner of his law firm, Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, which was engaged by SIC Life to recover funds.
According to the MP, the February 10 invitation was addressed to the Senior Partner of the firm to assist with inquiries concerning its client, SIC Life Savings and Loans. He claimed that by the time the letter arrived, he had become an MP and had therefore referred the matter to the Clerk to Parliament for advice on February 18. A lawful representative of the firm subsequently cooperated with EOCO on three occasions.
EOCO disputes the MP's account, citing Section 19 of the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804) in its invitation letter. The Office said the attempted arrest at the High Court, shortly after the MP had appeared as counsel for a client in the Ghana Jollof case, was a lawful step to secure his attendance after he ignored the two invitations.
The September 23 incident drew sharp criticism from the Ghana Bar Association, which described the manner of the attempted arrest as unprofessional. The Association warned that enforcement actions involving lawyers, especially when representing clients in court, must respect due process and professional independence. Majority Leader James Agalga also argued that EOCO should have routed any request concerning a sitting MP through the Speaker of Parliament.
The MP has explained that SIC Life Savings and Loans had invested about GH¢3.5 million with the defunct Equity Savings and Loans, which defaulted, with the liability growing with interest to about GH¢14 million. His firm was then instructed to recover the amount. EOCO has not publicly detailed its specific allegations regarding that recovery.
Reports suggest investigators are probing claims of a 15 percent legal fee arrangement and alleged payments linked to the then management of SIC Life. The warrant now gives EOCO judicial backing to arrest the legislator and to conduct a search and seizure operation for relevant documents. Another member of parliament is also reportedly a subject of these same investigations relating to SIC life savings and loans.
Key points
- The High Court has granted EOCO a warrant to arrest Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah over alleged financial irregularities at SIC Life Savings and Loans.
- EOCO claims the MP ignored two invitations to assist with inquiries concerning SIC Life Savings and Loans.
- The Ghana Bar Association has criticized the manner of the attempted arrest, warning that due process and professional independence must be respected.
