Minority questions attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP • EOCO insists arrest attempt followed lawful procedures

The Minority in Ghanaian Parliament has raised concerns about an attempted arrest of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, at the Accra High Court. This incident took place yesterday following the adjournment of a bail application for Salomey Baffoe Awiti, a nurse from Techiman. During the court appearance, according to Nana Baffour Awuah, a woman identified herself as an officer of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and requested his assistance.

The MP questioned the necessity, as he had not been personally invited by EOCO and the Speaker of Parliament had not been notified. He resisted an alleged forced entry into a vehicle and instead entered his own car. The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, addressed the incident at a press briefing, emphasizing the importance of law enforcement agencies adhering to constitutional privileges and proper procedure when dealing with legislators.

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has denied any wrongdoing, stating that its officers were conducting their duties within the scope of their legal responsibilities in connection with an ongoing investigation. The EOCO explained that the MP had been invited twice in February 2026 to assist with investigations but had failed to comply.

The attempted arrest was one of the lawful steps taken to ensure his attendance. The EOCO added that the confrontation escalated and the arrest was halted due to concerns about public safety. They acknowledged the MPs' constitutional privileges and stressed that these privileges do not exempt individuals from legal proceedings. The EOCO also mentioned that the investigation remains active and that they will review the video evidence and circumstances of the incident to determine their next steps.