Parliament questions continued detention of Baffour Awuah

Parliament has questioned the continued detention of MP for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), stating that his voluntary appearance before the agency should have raised concerns about the necessity of his continued custody. Parliament's Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the MP's detention.

The MP was presented voluntarily at EOCO after reports of a High Court warrant for his arrest. However, Parliament stated that they have yet to see the terms of the court's directive and will not attempt to interpret it. The decision to continue holding the MP in custody should be based on clear legal and necessary grounds. The MP's lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, has informed the office that his client faces charges of money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.

The EOCO has urged the public to refrain from making assumptions about the MP's guilt while investigations continue. Parliament emphasized that MPs are not above the law and that any suspicion of wrongdoing must follow due process. They stressed that MPs do not act solely in their personal capacities and that safeguards exist to protect Parliament's independence and the mandate of legislators.

The power to arrest or detain is a serious state power and should be exercised lawfully and reasonably, respecting constitutional rights and human dignity. Parliament claimed that the issue of Baffour Awuah's arrest and detention was not a first instance and they would review the existing framework governing these proceedings. They called for restraint and fairness from state institutions and officials in their use of coercive powers.