EOCO justifies decision to arrest Manhyia South MP

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) says Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah failed to honour two invitations issued in February 2026 to assist with an ongoing investigation.

The disclosure follows an attempted arrest of the MP at the Accra High Court on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

In a statement, EOCO explained that its officers were acting in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities when they attempted to arrest Baffour Awuah. The Office said the attempted arrest formed part of steps taken to secure his attendance after the earlier invitations were not honoured.

EOCO said the situation escalated during the operation, leading officers to discontinue the arrest after assessing that further action could have endangered public safety.

The Office also disclosed that it had identified two people who allegedly intervened to facilitate the MP’s departure from the scene. EOCO said it was assessing their conduct and would determine whether further lawful action was necessary.

The Office acknowledged that Baffour Awuah subsequently went to the precincts of Parliament. It stressed that it recognized and respected the constitutional privileges and immunities enjoyed by Members of Parliament.

However, EOCO maintained that being a Member of Parliament does not automatically bring an investigation to an end or place an individual beyond the reach of the law.

The Office said the investigation remained active and that it will review the circumstances surrounding the incident, including available video evidence, before deciding on its next steps.

The development comes amid differing accounts of the incident. Baffour Awuah has disputed EOCO’s position and given his own account of what happened at the court premises.

By Agnes Kusi