Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) of attempting to abuse the fundamental rights of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.
His comments followed a reported confrontation between the MP and EOCO officials at the Accra High Court on Wednesday, September 23, after the hearing of a bail application involving detained nurse Salomey Awiti Bafoh.
As captured in videos seen by ModernGhana News, a woman who identified herself as an EOCO official approached Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah after he had left the courtroom and asked him to accompany her to the EOCO office.
The MP, who is also a lawyer representing Ms Bafoh, declined and subsequently drove away from the court premises, with security personnel reportedly following his vehicle.
Reacting to this at a press conference, the Minority Leader questioned the circumstances under which security officials allegedly sought to take the MP into custody on the court premises.
He argued that state institutions have established procedures for inviting Members of Parliament for investigations.
“What is happening today amounts to abuse of power, weaponising a state institution to undermine, abuse, intimidate a citizen who is a lawyer and a Republic is most unfortunate. As a caucus, we are listening to our calling. We have no doubt in our mind that EOCO was on a path to abuse his rights, his fundamental human rights,” Afenyo-Markin said.
Afenyo-Markin said the development raised concerns about how state security agencies deal with MPs, arguing that institutions such as the Police, Office of the Special Prosecutor and EOCO ordinarily communicate with Parliament when they require the presence of a legislator.
He explained that such requests are typically addressed to the Speaker, after which parliamentary leadership and the Legal Directorate make arrangements for the MP to make himself available.
“The procedure here is that the agency or the institution, be it OSP, Police or EOCO, would write officially to the Speaker and request the release of the member.
"That's what has become the practice, and normally when the letter comes, the Speaker will refer it to the leadership, and leadership will brief the Legal Directorate for Parliament, and agreements are made for the member to avail himself,” he said.
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