The Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, who is serving as counsel for an accused person in the "Ghana Jollof" case pending before the courts, has been explaining what transpired between him and an official from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on Wednesday at the foyer of the High Court complex in Accra.
A video showing the said EOCO operative attempting to forcibly take him into custody has been circulated on social media.
In a statement issued by EOCO after the video of the incident was shared on social media, EOCO confirmed that its officers attempted to arrest the Manhyia South MP on Wednesday (Sept 23) at the foyer of the court complex and explained that it was in connection with an ongoing investigation.
EOCO said the attempted arrest was not completed after the officers assessed that further action could have endangered public safety adding that its officers were acting in the lawful discharge of their statutory responsibilities in relation to Baffour Awuah's refusal to honour the February 2026 invitation.
The office said the situation escalated during the operation, prompting the officers to stop the arrest.
It said Mr Baffour Awuah had been invited twice in February 2026 to assist with the investigation but did not honour the invitations.
EOCO said it subsequently took steps to secure his attendance in accordance with the law and described Wednesday's attempted arrest as part of those steps.
- Read also:
- Ghana Jollof case: High Court adjourns Salomey Bafoh’s bail application
- EOCO confirms attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP Baffour Awuah at court premises and says he ignored two invitations for interrogation in February 2026
Baffour Awuah's reaction to EOCO's explanation
Baffour Awuah has since reacted to the EOCO explanation for the action and wrote the following in a statement:
FACTS REGARDING THE SAID EOCO INVITATION
1. First and foremost, it should be noted that Lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has never been the subject of any investigations. Rather, it is SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited, a company Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners (hereinafter referred to as the Firm), represented and still represents in legal matters, that is under investigation.
2. The letter below from EOCO dated 10th February 2026, sought to invite the Senior Partner of the Firm, "to report to the Executive Director or his representative on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 10:00am at EOCO Head Office, Accra, to assist with the investigations."
3. On 18 February 2026, Lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, then Senior Partner of the firm, responded to EOCO, informing the Office that he was now a Member of Parliament and had therefore referred the letter to the Clerk to Parliament for advice.
4. Following the above, a lawful representative of the firm duly cooperated with EOCO interrogations, on three (3) different occasions (i.e. 4th March 2026, 18th March 2026 and 30th April 2026) and provided all the necessary information requested after which a formal written Statement, dated 30th April 2026, in relation to the matter was submitted to EOCO.
5. It is significant to note that since the lawful representative of the firm engaged with EOCO and provided the information and formal written Statement required, there has been no further invitation.
According to the MP, the incident occurred shortly after he had represented his client, Salomey Baffoe Awiti in court. Read also: Ghana Jollof case: High Court adjourns Salomey Bafoh’s bail application
Speaking at a press briefing in Parliament shortly after the incident, Nana Baffour Awuah said a woman approached him after the court proceedings, touched his hand and told him that he was needed at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
He said he questioned why he had not been formally invited if EOCO wanted him to report at its office.
Nana Baffour Awuah said the woman told him that he had previously been invited to EOCO but had failed to appear, a claim he denied.
He said he subsequently asked the woman to identify herself and produce evidence that she was from EOCO, as well as an arrest warrant.
According to him, she was unable to produce either.
Nana Baffour Awuah said he offered to drive himself to the EOCO office, but the woman insisted that he travelled in their vehicle.
That, he said, heightened his suspicion and prompted him to drive away from the scene.
“It became obvious to me that it was one of the recent kidnappings that have been going on, which is sponsored by the state,” he told journalists.
He said his decision to leave the scene was also influenced by his responsibilities as an MP, a member of the Minority Caucus, a lawyer representing Ms Baffoe Awiti and a family man.
Nana Baffour Awuah said the pursuit continued as he drove towards Parliament, where he was joined by some of his colleagues.
He said the officer attempted to take him into custody while he was on his way to Parliament and that he later arrived at the parliamentary premises with colleagues following him.
Video footage circulating online showed a tense encounter around the MP’s vehicle, with a female EOCO operative attempting to prevent him from leaving.
A scuffle subsequently broke out before a member of his legal team opened the vehicle door to clear the way for the MP, who then drove off as security personnel briefly followed.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, later called on the Chief Justice to examine the manner in which arrests were conducted on court premises.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, speaking at a separate press conference in Parliament, said Nana Baffour Awuah was a lawyer who, according to his own account, was confronted by EOCO officials immediately after leaving the courtroom.
EOCO has since given a different account of the incident.
In a statement issued later, the Office said Nana Baffour Awuah had ignored two invitations it sent to him in February 2026 to assist with an ongoing investigation.
It said his failure to honour the invitations prompted its officers to take steps to secure his attendance in accordance with the law.
EOCO maintained that its officers were lawfully discharging their duties when they attempted to arrest him at the High Court.
The Office also said it had identified two persons who it believed helped the MP leave the scene and was reviewing their conduct for possible action.
While acknowledging the parliamentary privileges enjoyed by MPs, EOCO said membership of Parliament did not bring an investigation to an end or place an individual beyond the reach of the law.
It said the investigation remained active and that it would review the incident, including available video footage, before deciding on its next steps.
The incident occurred after proceedings in the bail application of Ms Baffoe Awiti, a 40-year-old nurse and mother of three, who is in state custody in connection with a case involving the “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account.
The prosecution has accused her of abetting the publication of false news.
The bail application was adjourned to Thursday, September 24, after the prosecution requested more time to respond.
