An Accra High Court has granted Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, a bail of GH¢10 million with two sureties. This follows his appearance in court where he pleaded not guilty to charges brought against him. The charges include conspiracy to commit crime, causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢9.85 million, and money laundering. These charges stem from alleged financial transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
Nana Baffour Awuah denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him. The court, presided over by Justice Charity Akosua Asem, a Court of Appeal Judge with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, set the bail conditions. The two sureties, who are also Members of Parliament and were present in court, will stand surety for the accused. Additionally, Nana Baffour Awuah was directed to deposit his passport with the Court Registry.
The court also ordered Nana Baffour Awuah to make himself available to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) whenever required for investigations. This directive was part of the bail conditions aimed at ensuring that the accused cooperates with investigators and remains available to the court. The prosecution, led by Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney-General, did not oppose the grant of bail but urged the court to impose conditions that would ensure the accused's availability.
Dr. Srem-Sai highlighted that EOCO had made several attempts to secure Nana Baffour Awuah's attendance during investigations and urged the court to consider these circumstances when determining the bail conditions. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the accused cooperates with the investigation process. The prosecution's stance was that while they did not oppose bail, certain conditions should be met to facilitate a smooth investigation.
Mr. Samuel Atta Akyea, counsel for Nana Baffour Awuah, argued that his client was not a flight risk and had gone to EOCO on his own volition. He urged the court to grant bail under reasonable terms. Mr. Atta Akyea also drew the court's attention to previous cases where former Ministers had been granted bail on their own recognisance. He added that two MPs were present in court to stand as sureties for Nana Baffour Awuah.
The court has directed the prosecution to file its disclosures by October 22, 2026, to enable it to conduct a Case Management Conference on November 2, 2026. This case management conference is a critical step in the judicial process, aimed at ensuring that the trial proceeds efficiently. The case against Nana Baffour Awuah follows an investigation by EOCO into alleged financial transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
The investigation by EOCO began after it sought to secure Nana Baffour Awuah's attendance for questioning. EOCO subsequently obtained a High Court warrant for his arrest and the search and seizure of documents relevant to the investigation. Nana Baffour Awuah reported himself to EOCO on October 1, 2026, accompanied by his lawyers, and was detained and questioned as part of the investigation. His lawyers have maintained that the transactions under investigation arose from legal work undertaken by his former law firm.
Key points
- The Accra High Court grants GH¢10 million bail to Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, MP for Manhyia South.
- Nana Baffour Awuah faces charges of conspiracy, causing financial loss of GH¢9.85 million, and money laundering.
- The court sets conditions for bail, including two sureties and the deposit of Nana Baffour Awuah's passport.
