Afenyo-Markin demands Attorney-General brief Parliament on Miracles Aboagye EOCO arrest

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called on Parliament to summon the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to explain the circumstances surrounding recent arrests carried out by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), particularly the detention of former Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD) Executive Secretary, Dennis Aboagye.

Addressing the House during debate on the Business Statement for the week ending Friday, July 17, 2026, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said Parliament had a constitutional oversight responsibility and could not remain silent over what he described as troubling developments.

“Mr Speaker, we are a House with oversight responsibility, and there are things that are happening that if we do not talk about today, tomorrow the other side will be wearing the shoe,” he stated.

The Minority Leader criticised EOCO's handling of Mr. Aboagye's arrest, saying the former government official was detained for more than three days after being picked up at the Accra International Airport.

“Mr Speaker, the Director of Communications of our party was arrested and detained at the airport, and he has been in custody for over three days.

“We are not against accountability, but we are against the 'Rambo' style, and our colleagues should not be up in arms as it can be them tomorrow,” he said.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin maintained that while the Minority supported efforts to ensure accountability, law enforcement agencies should carry out their duties in a manner that respected the rights and dignity of individuals.

He argued that the circumstances surrounding Mr. Aboagye's arrest were not in the interest of Ghana's democracy, insisting that the former IMCCoD Executive Secretary had returned to the country voluntarily and was prepared to cooperate with investigators if invited.

Questioning the need for the arrest and subsequent detention, he also criticised the bail conditions imposed on Mr. Aboagye.

“And now the EOCO is demanding property worth over GH¢50 million before he is granted bail.

“Let us be careful, my dear political colleagues; let us be careful, Ghanaian political leaders, as it can be somebody tomorrow,” he cautioned.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin urged Members of Parliament not to treat the issue as a partisan matter, warning that similar situations could affect public officials from any political tradition.

He noted that Mr. Aboagye had recently suffered personal losses after floods in Accra affected his family.

“Miracles Aboagye is already traumatised because of the floods, and then to worsen it, you detained him for three days, and you say that if he wants his freedom he should bring property worth GH¢50 million.

“This is not something that must attract partisan reaction as it is a human right issue, and the Attorney-General must come to this House and brief us on what is happening,” he added.

The Minority Leader also expressed concern over what he described as EOCO's practice of inviting members of the Minority Caucus who had publicly criticised the government on national issues.

Responding to the remarks, Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor rejected the Minority Leader's call, arguing that Mr. Afenyo-Markin had no basis for asking Parliament to summon the Attorney-General over an ongoing investigation.

He said the Minority Leader's position appeared to suggest that public office holders should be shielded from accountability.

“He has no moral right to suggest that where an investigative body has conducted a year-long investigation into a matter, has invited the suspect and now made prima facie determination and is effecting an arrest that may possibly lead to prosecution, the Minority Leader is on this floor inviting the A-G to come and respond to what?” he asked.