NPP Condemns 'Unlawful' EOCO Attempt to Detain MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah Amid Cocaine Scandal Allegations

On September 23, 2026, a high-stakes confrontation unfolded at the Accra High Court as officials from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) attempted to arrest Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South. The incident, which has since gone viral on social media, occurred following a court session where Awuah was acting as legal counsel for nurse Salomey Awiti Baffoe. While EOCO maintains the operation was a necessary response to the MP repeatedly ignoring invitations related to an ongoing investigation into his law firm, Baffour Awuah and his supporters have characterized the move as a 'Rambo-style' abduction attempt and a clear act of political provocation. The agency later stated it abandoned the arrest attempt at the scene due to public safety concerns.

The details of the encounter remain a point of fierce contention between the lawmaker and the investigative body. Baffour Awuah alleged that an official aggressively demanded he accompany her without producing proper identification or a warrant, leading him to fear a potential kidnapping. The MP resisted the detention and eventually drove away, seeking sanctuary within the premises of Parliament, a move he defended as a necessary response to 'state-sponsored kidnapping.' EOCO has countered this narrative, asserting that the MP had failed to honor two formal invitations issued in February 2026. However, Baffour Awuah argues that he has been legally cooperative and that the investigation targets his firm’s senior partners rather than his personal conduct.

The political fallout has been swift, with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership and various legal experts rallying behind the Manhyia South representative. NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye and General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua appeared in court to show solidarity, alleging that the government under President John Mahama is using state agencies to divert public attention from a burgeoning cocaine scandal involving international arrests. Fellow lawmakers, including Samuel Abu Jinapor and Samuel Awuku, joined the chorus of condemnation, warning that such 'abusive conduct' suggests the 'Rule of Law' is being replaced by the 'Rule of Men.' Legal practitioners like Martin Kpebu and Bobby Banson have also called for administrative action or leadership changes at EOCO, citing the unprofessional nature of the court-side arrest attempt.

Despite being declared 'wanted' by EOCO, Baffour Awuah remains defiant, daring the agency's Executive Director, Raymond Archer—whom he accused of past extortion—to personally attempt the arrest. The MP has maintained his intention to continue attending court proceedings and performing his parliamentary duties. Meanwhile, EOCO has signaled its intention to escalate the legal battle, announcing plans to prosecute two individuals seen in viral footage assisting the MP in his escape from the court premises. As tensions rise between the legislature and the investigative body, the incident has sparked a broader national debate regarding the sanctity of court grounds and the procedural limits of state security agencies.