Attempted arrest of Baffour Awuah was unjustified and dangerous – Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Former Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has raised concerns over the attempted arrest of Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, calling it unjustified and potentially dangerous to Ghana's democracy. On Joy Super Morning Show, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu suggested that an earlier invitation from the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) was aimed at the law firm where Awuah serves as a senior partner rather than personally targeting the MP.

According to Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the firm was contacted as a business entity, and the senior partner, who later became a Member of Parliament, was asked to assist with an investigation in his capacity as an officer of the firm. Following the invitation, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said Awuah consulted Parliament's Clerk who advised that another senior officer of the law firm could represent them.

On three separate visits to investigators, a senior female associate of the firm submitted a statement on behalf of the firm, which the investigators accepted. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu questioned why the MP was then traced to the court premises and arrested if the firm had already cooperated with the investigators. "Why out of the blue do they trace and track Baffour to the court premises and attempt an arrest?"

Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu asked. He deemed the episode as an "aftershock" with no justification. "It clearly comes with no justification," he added. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also expressed worries about the incident's implications for parliamentary privileges and the relationship between investigative bodies and Parliament, stating that it is dangerous for democracy.

The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) denied the claim that the matter had been resolved, stating that Awuah had been invited twice in February 2026 to assist with an ongoing investigation but did not respond. EOCO said the attempted arrest was part of lawful measures to ensure his attendance. The Office acknowledged respecting the parliamentary privileges and immunities but stressed that being a Member of Parliament does not exempt an individual from the law's reach.

The investigation remains open, and EOCO plans to review video evidence and the incident's circumstances before deciding on next steps.