Akim Swedru MP tells Mahama to ‘sit up’ over EOCO’s attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP

Kennedy Osei Nyarko, the Akim Swedru Member of Parliament, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to address the conduct of security agencies following an attempted arrest of his colleague, Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. In a Facebook post, Mr Osei Nyarko criticized security officials for confronting the lawmaker at the Accra High Court instead of using formal channels to invite him, especially considering his status as a sitting MP whose whereabouts could easily be determined.

He questioned the manner in which the operation was carried out, emphasizing that ambushing a member of parliament while they are at court to represent a client to arrest them is not justified. Mr Osei Nyarko argued that investigators could have contacted the MP directly or utilized established parliamentary channels, such as the Office of the Speaker, to obtain his assistance.

The incident occurred on September 23, 2023, when Mr Awuah was serving as counsel for Salomey Baffoe Awiti, who faced allegations related to the "Ghana Jollof" case. After the court proceedings, an officer from the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) approached Mr Awuah and requested he accompany her to the agency's office.

The encounter escalated near his vehicle as he attempted to leave the premises. EOCO confirmed that its officers attempted to arrest Mr Awuah but stated that the action was part of lawful steps to secure his attendance in an ongoing investigation. The agency noted that Mr Awuah had been invited twice in February 2023 to assist with the investigation but did not respond.

EOCO claimed that the arrest did not reach completion due to the situation's escalation and the assessment that further action could endanger public safety. The agency reiterated that it respects the constitutional privileges and immunities of MPs but emphasized that parliamentary membership does not exempt an individual from legal consequences.

They also stated that the investigation is ongoing and that they will review available video evidence and the circumstances surrounding the incident before determining their next steps.