'EOCO attempted arrest of Baffour Awuah was unprofessional' — James Agalga

Majority Leader James Agalga has criticised the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over its attempted arrest of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, describing the approach as unprofessional.

"The way EOCO went about the attempted arrest of Baffour Awuah was a bit unprofessional," Mr Agalga said on TV3's Agenda on September 29.

EOCO should have written to the Speaker

Mr Agalga, who is also MP for Builsa North, explained that Members of Parliament enjoy a degree of immunity under the Standing Orders of Parliament. He said EOCO should therefore have channelled its request through the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

"They should have written to the Speaker," he stressed.

What happened at the Accra High Court
The incident occurred on September 23, 2026, at the Accra High Court Complex. Mr Baffour Awuah, who is also a lawyer, had just appeared in court to represent nurse Salomey Baffoe Awiti in a bail application linked to the ongoing "Ghana Jollof" case.

Videos circulating online show a female EOCO official approaching the MP outside the court and asking him to accompany her to EOCO headquarters. Mr Baffour Awuah demanded identification and an arrest warrant, which he said were not produced, and offered to drive himself in his own vehicle. The official reportedly insisted that he board the EOCO vehicle.

A confrontation followed around his vehicle, after which Mr Baffour Awuah drove off to Parliament, which is currently on recess. He later described the encounter as an attempted state-sponsored kidnapping and an effort to intimidate him over his defence of his client.

EOCO says MP ignored two invitations
In a statement issued on September 23, EOCO confirmed the attempted arrest and said it was acting in the lawful discharge of its duties. The Office said Mr Baffour Awuah had ignored two invitations issued in February 2026 to assist with an ongoing investigation.

"The Office had previously invited Hon. Baffour Awuah to assist with the investigation on two occasions in February 2026. The invitations were not honoured," EOCO stated.

EOCO added that the arrest was not completed because its officers judged that a counter-action could endanger public safety.

Baffour Awuah disputes EOCO's account

Mr Baffour Awuah has rejected EOCO's version of events. He said he was never personally under investigation. Rather, he said, the matter concerned his former law firm, Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, which represents SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited, the company under investigation.

He said he replied to EOCO on February 18, 2026, informing the Office that he had become an MP and had referred the matter to the Clerk of Parliament. He added that a lawful representative of the firm subsequently cooperated with EOCO on three occasions, on March 4, March 18 and April 30, 2026.