EOCO: Botched Arrest Of Manhyia South MP At Accra High Court

• The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) attempted to arrest Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at the Accra High Court on September 23, 2026.
• The MP was acting as counsel for a client whose bail application was related to the "Ghana Jollof" TikTok account case.
• NPP leadership and Manhyia South residents condemned the EOCO's action as unconstitutional, unfair, and a disregard for parliamentary immunity and due process.
• Critics alleged the attempted arrest was politically motivated, designed to silence opposition and divert attention from other national security issues.
• Calls have been made for Parliament, civil society, and the Ghana Bar Association to address what is perceived as an abuse of power by EOCO.

Joseph Appiah, the Manhyia South Constituency Communication Officer, emphasized that if EOCO possessed any legitimate invitation or charges against the MP, established legal procedures, including formal notification to the Speaker of Parliament, should have been followed.

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Ghana reportedly made a failed attempt to arrest Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South. The incident unfolded at the premises of the Accra High Court, where the MP was present in his professional capacity as a lawyer. Mr. Baffour Awuah was serving as counsel for social commentator Salomey Baffoe Awiti, whose bail application was being heard in connection with the "Ghana Jollof" TikTok account case.

Eyewitness accounts and social media videos depicted a woman approaching the legislator and requesting his accompaniment. This interaction escalated into a confrontation near his vehicle before the MP ultimately departed the scene. The attempted apprehension has been widely characterized by local political figures as a "botched" and "Rambo-style" operation, drawing significant criticism from his constituents and party leadership.

The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Manhyia South Constituency swiftly condemned the actions of the Economic and Organised Crime Office, labeling the attempt as both unfair and unconstitutional. They expressed profound concern over what they perceived as an inappropriate handling of a sitting Member of Parliament, arguing that such conduct undermines the dignity of Parliament and disregards due process.

Joseph Appiah, the Manhyia South Constituency Communication Officer, emphasized that if EOCO possessed any legitimate invitation or charges against the MP, established legal procedures, including formal notification to the Speaker of Parliament, should have been followed. He asserted that the agency's approach, rather than adhering to these protocols, set a dangerous precedent for the rule of law in Ghana. Mary Coka, the Constituency Women’s Organiser, voiced her shock, stating that the MP was merely fulfilling his professional duties as a lawyer and had not committed any crime warranting such an arrest.

Beyond procedural irregularities, the attempted arrest of the Manhyia South MP has been met with accusations of political motivation. Mary Coka claimed the action was orchestrated to silence critical voices and served as a "smokescreen" to divert national attention from pressing national security issues, specifically recent allegations of drug trafficking that have dominated public discourse. She further highlighted that the Economic and Organised Crime Office had never formally invited the MP for questioning prior to this incident.

Residents of Manhyia South have also reacted with considerable anger and disappointment, viewing the failed apprehension as a direct affront to their constituency and disrespectful of the mandate they entrusted to their representative. They called upon EOCO to respect the inherent privileges and immunities afforded to Members of Parliament, urging the security agency to avoid actions that could exacerbate political tensions within the country. Joseph Appiah echoed these sentiments, suggesting the incident was an attempt to intimidate opposition MPs.

In response to the controversial incident, the Manhyia South Constituency Communication Officer, Joseph Appiah, issued a strong appeal to the leadership of Parliament, civil society organizations, and the Ghana Bar Association. He urged these bodies to publicly denounce what he termed an abuse of power by the Economic and Organised Crime Office. The constituency executive of the NPP reiterated the party's unwavering resolve, asserting that they would not yield to what they described as state-sponsored harassment and intimidation targeting their members.

The collective sentiment from the constituency underscores a demand for strict adherence to due process and the protection of parliamentary immunity in Ghana. Residents and party officials alike stressed the importance of ensuring that all security agencies operate within legal frameworks, thereby preventing actions that could heighten political instability and erode public trust in the rule of law.

Source: Original reporting via Carbonatix and Francis Mensah