ensions escalated at the Accra High Court on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, after officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) attempted to arrest the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.
The incident occurred shortly after the MP had appeared at the court as a lawyer representing detained nurse Salomey Baffoe Awiti.
Videos circulating from the scene showed a confrontation involving the MP, members of his legal team and a female officer believed to be from EOCO. The incident reportedly resulted in a tense exchange as the MP attempted to leave the court premises.
EOCO later confirmed that its officers had attempted to arrest Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah in connection with an ongoing investigation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the anti-economic crime agency said the MP had previously been invited on two occasions in February 2026 to assist with its investigation, but the invitations were not honoured.
EOCO said the attempted arrest was therefore one of the steps it had taken to secure the MP’s attendance in accordance with the law. The agency added that the arrest was not completed after the situation escalated and its officers assessed that continuing the operation could endanger public safety.
The agency also said it had identified two individuals who allegedly intervened to facilitate the MP’s departure from the scene. EOCO said it was assessing the conduct of the two individuals and would determine whether further lawful action was necessary.
The development has generated competing accounts from the authorities and the MP.
Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, speaking after the incident, said a woman approached him after the court proceedings and asked him to accompany her to EOCO. He said he questioned why he was being taken to the agency without what he described as a formal invitation.
The MP further claimed that he asked the woman to identify herself as an EOCO officer and produce an arrest warrant, but said he was not satisfied with the response. He subsequently drove away from the scene and proceeded to Parliament.
The incident occurred while the MP was representing Salomey Baffoe Awiti in court. Her case is connected to investigations surrounding the Ghana Jollof TikTok account.
EOCO, however, has maintained that its action was part of its statutory responsibilities and that parliamentary membership does not automatically bring an investigation to an end or place an individual beyond the reach of the law.
At the same time, the agency acknowledged the constitutional privileges and immunities enjoyed by Members of Parliament, saying it would not take any action inconsistent with parliamentary privilege or other protections provided under the Constitution.
EOCO also confirmed that the investigation remains active. The agency said it would review the circumstances surrounding the attempted arrest, including available video evidence, before determining its next steps.
The confrontation has attracted public attention because it involves a sitting MP, a state investigative agency and events that unfolded at the premises of the High Court.
For now, both the circumstances leading to the attempted arrest and the next steps EOCO intends to take remain under investigation.
Further developments are expected as the agency reviews the incident and the legal proceedings involving Salomey Baffoe Awiti continue.
Source: Thepressradio.com
