Sosu challenges EOCO’s basis for attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP

Madina Member of Parliament Francis-Xavier Sosu has questioned the Economic and Organised Crime Office's (EOCO) reasoning for attempting to arrest Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. Sosu maintains that an individual cannot be apprehended solely for failing to answer an invitation from an investigative agency; law enforcement must adhere to established legal procedures when pursuing an arrest.

During an interview on Adom FM's Dwaso Nsem, Sosu rejected EOCO's assertion that they had extended an invitation to Awuah since February, but the MP had not responded. Sosu emphasized that citizens are not legally obligated to aid investigative bodies simply because they have been invited to provide information. He stated, "No citizen is under obligation to assist any investigative body in investigations."

Sosu argued that if an investigative agency possesses sufficient evidence to warrant an arrest, they should proceed in accordance with the law rather than using an unfulfilled invitation as justification. He queried the justification for using an unresponded invitation as grounds for an arrest. "If there is a complaint before you and you believe you have evidence to place the person under arrest, go ahead.

You can't say you invited the person, and for a long time, it hasn’t been honoured, so you go ahead to make an arrest," Sosu declared.

The lawyer underscored that Ghana's substantive and criminal procedural laws govern investigations and arrests. He questioned why law enforcement should be permitted to breach the procedures required by law when seeking to apprehend an individual. Sosu insisted that even when a person is suspected of violating the law, law enforcement must still follow the procedures mandated by the law in attempting to arrest that individual.

"You can’t say someone has flouted the law, and you will also breach the procedure to effect an arrest," he cautioned.

Sosu called for strict adherence to due process, asserting that doing so would help prevent unnecessary conflicts between law enforcement agencies and citizens. He urged everyone to follow the law and due process, stating that everything would be fine if this were done.