The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has explained that he drove away from an altercation with security personnel at the Accra High Court because he feared for his safety.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 23, shortly after proceedings in a bail application involving Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a nurse who has been remanded in connection with investigations into the activities of the anonymous “Ghana Jollof” social media account.
According to the MP, a woman who identified herself as being from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) approached him after he had addressed the press and instructed him to accompany her to the EOCO office, but failed to produce an arrest warrant or other evidence authorising his arrest.
“It became obvious to me that there was one of the recent kidnappings that happened, which is considered by the state. And so, at that point, I needed to defend and protect myself for the benefit of the good people of Manhyia South, whom I serve, the Minority caucus, my children, and my own family,” he said at a press conference in Parliament.
Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah said the woman allegedly told him that she would forcibly take him to the EOCO office after he declined to accompany her, prompting him to drive away from the scene.
He said he subsequently drove to Parliament, where he had committee work to attend to, while expressing concern that the incident could have been an attempt to unlawfully take him away from the court premises.
The MP was part of the legal team representing Ms Bafoh, who is seeking bail after being remanded for two weeks by the Adenta Circuit Court.
The MP's comments follow a video circulating on social media showing a confrontation between him and a woman believed to be a security officer near a vehicle outside the court.
The footage shows the woman standing by the vehicle as the MP attempts to get in, before an altercation ensues.
A man accompanying the MP is then seen opening the car door and pushing the woman aside as the MP drives away.
Another vehicle, believed to belong to the security personnel, is subsequently seen following the MP's vehicle.
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