EOCO attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP diversionary tactic - Martin Ampim

The Biakoye Constituency Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Martin Ampim, has criticised the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over its attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP and lawyer, Baffour Awuah.

Speaking on the Bubune Morning Show hosted by Nana Yaw Asiamah, Mr Ampim described the incident as unnecessary and poorly executed, while questioning the timing of the operation.

He argued that EOCO had been engaging the MP for several months and could have used established parliamentary channels to secure his appearance instead of attempting to arrest him at the High Court.

According to Mr Ampim, correspondence involving EOCO, Lawyer Baffour Awuah and the Speaker of Parliament since February demonstrated that there had been ongoing communication between the parties.

“If EOCO wanted to arrest him, they had many opportunities. Why wait until he was at the court, with all the media attention?” he asked.

Mr Ampim further alleged that the operation was carried out at a time when journalists and members of the public had gathered at the High Court for another case involving a remanded nurse, creating an environment in which the incident was likely to attract significant public attention.

He also raised concerns about the manner in which the attempted arrest was conducted, claiming that a lone female officer appeared to have been sent to carry out the operation without adequate visible support.

“I saw her signalling for people to come, but nobody came. If that was really an arrest operation, they should have considered the officer’s own safety,” he said.

Mr Ampim claimed that the officer was unable to produce identification when asked to establish that she was acting on behalf of EOCO. He, however, acknowledged that the account represented his personal recollection of the incident.

Beyond the specific incident, Mr Ampim expressed concern about what he described as a growing perception of unequal treatment within the justice system.

He argued that the Attorney General’s office and state institutions should serve all citizens fairly, regardless of their political affiliation or position.

Mr Ampim also cautioned against the misuse of state institutions, saying governments should remember that political power is not permanent and that public confidence can suffer when citizens believe institutions are being applied unfairly.

However, the host, Nana Yaw Asiamah, challenged his interpretation that the operation was intended to divert public attention, suggesting that the incident could instead have resulted from an operational error by EOCO.

Mr Ampim maintained that the timing, location and previous communication between EOCO and the MP informed his interpretation of the incident, while stressing that the conclusion was his personal assessment of the events.

The attempted arrest of Lawyer Baffour Awuah has since generated public debate over the conduct of the operation, the procedures applicable when MPs are under investigation and broader questions about law enforcement practices.