Attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP was incompetently done - Bentil

Private legal practitioner Kofi Bentil has criticized the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for incompetently attempting to arrest Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. Bentil stated that the arrest was unlawful and driven by unbridled zeal, resulting in an incompetent process aimed at harassing the MP while performing his duty.

Kwasi Kwarteng, another private legal practitioner and a Communications Team Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), echoed these sentiments. He called the timing and manner of the arrest "poor, unintelligent, and unwise," emphasizing that while EOCO is a legal entity, it must still adhere to the law in its actions. Kwarteng also criticized EOCO's overall approach, noting that the incident has damaged the government's reputation.

Martin Kpebu, another legal practitioner, argued that it is legally permissible for someone to resist an unlawful arrest. He stated that EOCO's actions were wrong, particularly because Awuah was at the Accra High Court Complex to represent a client. Kpebu also advised EOCO to have written to the Speaker of Parliament instead of attempting the arrest at the court premises.

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) expressed deep concern over the incident, warning that bypassing constitutional safeguards, such as seeking the Speaker's approval before making an arrest, could undermine public confidence in the justice system and the rule of law. The GBA emphasized the importance of lawyers being able to defend their clients without facing harassment, cautioning that such actions could discourage pro bono services.