The Press Secretary at the Office of the Attorney General, Benjamin Alpha Aidoo Esq., has defended the Economic and Organised Crime Office’s (EOCO) attempt last week to arrest Manhyia South Member of Parliament (MP), Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, stating that a subsequent High Court arrest warrant confirms the agency acted on a proper and reasonable basis.
Speaking on GHOne TV’s Morning Show, GhToday, Mr Aidoo noted that EOCO had sought to secure the attendance of the honourable Member of Parliament after suspecting that a crime had been committed.
He acknowledged that the scene involving a female EOCO officer and the MP at the Accra High Court premises on September 23 became “untidy,” but insisted the underlying action was justified.
“Subsequently, an application has been taken to the court and the court has actually granted an arrest warrant. Now, the court granting an arrest warrant actually means that there is reasonable basis for effecting arrest,” Mr Aidoo said.
He emphasised that the facts presented to the judge by way of affidavit evidence were the same as those existing the previous week and had met the legal threshold for the issuance of the warrant.
“Indeed, between last week and now, the facts haven’t changed. It is not as if between last week and now the facts have changed dramatically for which now a basis for arrest has arisen,” he added.
“So, last week when they wanted to arrest him based on reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed, they were right. We can all talk about the untidiness of the arrest, but they were actually right. Iyoku was right to do that. And this bench warrant actually confirms that what Iyoku was doing last week was not out of order and that there was proper and reasonable basis for which that should be done.”
The September 23 incident occurred shortly after Mr Baffour Awuah, who is also a lawyer, left the Accra High Court complex.
Video footage of the confrontation circulated widely, showing an EOCO officer attempting to take the MP into custody.
The arrest was not completed after officers assessed that further action risked endangering public safety.
EOCO later stated that the MP had failed to honour two invitations issued in February 2026 to assist with an investigation.
On September 30, an Accra High Court granted EOCO a warrant authorising the MP’s arrest and the search for and seizure of relevant documents.
The agency told the court it had exhausted reasonable means of securing his voluntary attendance and was concerned that evidence could be concealed, altered or destroyed.
The investigation centres on alleged unauthorised financial transactions at SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited. Authorities have linked the probe to suspected offences including causing financial loss, dissipation of public funds and money laundering.
EOCO has indicated that the invitations were directed to Mr Baffour Awuah in his capacity as Senior Partner of Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, a firm previously engaged by the company.
Mr Baffour Awuah has disputed aspects of EOCO’s account, maintaining that a representative of the firm engaged with investigators and provided information. He has also questioned the manner of the September 23 encounter.
Following the issuance of the warrant, the MP presented himself at EOCO offices accompanied by his counsel and some fellow legislators.
The developments have sparked debate over the procedures for securing the attendance of Members of Parliament in criminal investigations, including the application of constitutional privileges under Article 117 and the need to channel requests through the Speaker when appropriate.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
