Parliament has expressed concern over the continued detention of Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
In a statement dated October 3, 2026, Parliament said the MP voluntarily reported himself to EOCO after the Accra High Court issued a warrant for his arrest.
The legislature said the circumstances surrounding his continued custody raised concerns about the rights and privileges of Members of Parliament as well as the need for state investigative bodies to exercise their powers within the law.
Parliament acknowledged that MPs are not above the law and that any legislator reasonably suspected of committing an offence must be subjected to the appropriate legal process.
However, it noted that Members of Parliament also operate within a constitutional framework that provides safeguards governing their interactions with state institutions.
According to Parliament, the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, had been informed that the High Court directed EOCO to enforce the warrant against the MP. The Speaker, however, had not yet seen the terms of the directive and therefore declined to interpret it.
The statement said that after the MP voluntarily presented himself to EOCO and cooperated with the process, any decision to keep him in custody should have a clear legal basis.
Parliament further questioned the necessity and proportionality of keeping the MP overnight, stressing that the power to arrest and detain is a serious coercive authority that must be exercised lawfully and with respect for constitutional rights.
It said where the objective of securing a person’s attendance had already been achieved through voluntary appearance, continued detention should not become routine or punitive.
The legislature said that if the warrant or court order required the MP to appear before the court, reasonable steps should be taken to ensure that happens at the earliest lawful opportunity.
Parliament also announced plans to examine the constitutional and statutory procedures governing the arrest, detention or prosecution of sitting MPs.
It said previous incidents involving parliamentarians had demonstrated the need for clearer rules when investigative or prosecutorial authorities seek to arrest, detain or prosecute a sitting Member of Parliament.
The statement said Parliament would consider whether legislative changes were necessary to balance accountability and due process with the independence and effective functioning of the legislature.
Parliament also called on state institutions and public officials to exercise their coercive powers with restraint and fairness.
It urged that matters concerning Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah be handled in accordance with the Constitution, the law and applicable court orders, while respecting his rights and avoiding unnecessary interference with the work of Parliament.
The MP remains the subject of an EOCO investigation involving alleged financial transactions concerning SIC Life Savings and Loans. EOCO has said the investigation covers allegations including criminal conspiracy, financial loss, money laundering and tax-related offences, which remain under investigation.
Read the statement below:
