Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah Clashes with EOCO Following Attempted Arrest at Accra High Court

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has sparked a significant constitutional and political debate following its attempt to arrest Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, at the Accra High Court on September 23, 2026. The incident occurred shortly after the MP, acting as legal counsel, represented social commentator Salomey Baffoe Awiti in a case involving the 'Ghana Jollof' TikTok account. Video footage of the confrontation shows the MP refusing to accompany an unidentified officer, ultimately driving away from the premises to seek safety at Parliament House. EOCO later confirmed the attempted arrest, stating it was halted to ensure public safety, but maintained that parliamentary status does not exempt individuals from legal investigations.

At the heart of the dispute is a disagreement over prior cooperation and the nature of EOCO's investigation. The agency claims Baffour Awuah ignored two invitations issued in February 2026 to assist with an ongoing inquiry. However, the MP and his legal team have contested these assertions, arguing that the invitations were directed to his law firm rather than him personally, and that the firm had already cooperated by providing the requested information. Baffour Awuah described the attempted arrest as an 'abduction' attempt, noting the officers failed to provide proper identification or a warrant, which led him to fear for his safety amid a climate of reported kidnappings.

The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from both sides of the aisle in Parliament. Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin have both cited Article 117 of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates that legal processes involving sitting MPs must be served through the Speaker of Parliament. Afenyo-Markin urged President John Mahama to 'call his appointees to order,' warning that state institutions must operate within the law to maintain the dignity of the Republic. Similarly, the NPP’s Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed, described the move as a failure of institutional protocol, arguing that EOCO’s subsequent admission that they would follow proper procedure in the future is a tacit admission that the initial attempt was unlawful.

Legal experts have offered varying perspectives on the limits of parliamentary privilege. While practitioners like Martin Kpebu and Kwaku Azar criticized the arrest attempt as unprofessional and a setback for democracy, Samson Lardy Anyenini cautioned that Article 117 does not provide a blanket shield. He argued that the privilege is primarily intended to prevent interference with parliamentary business and that law enforcement should verify whether an MP is actively engaged in legislative duties before attempting an arrest. As the High Court adjourns the related bail hearing for Salomey Baffoe Awiti, the fallout from the confrontation continues to pressure the Mahama administration to clarify the boundaries between executive law enforcement and parliamentary immunity.