Baffour Awuah didn’t help his case if he ignored EOCO’s invitation – Appiah Danquah

Director of Legal Affairs for the United Party (UP), Andrew Appiah Danquah, has said Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah may have worsened his situation if he indeed ignored invitations from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily programme on Thursday, October 1, he argued that even though a person may have the right to decline an invitation from an investigative agency, doing so could eventually compel the agency to seek a court order to secure their attendance.

“If that’s the case, then I think that Nana Baffour Awuah has not helped issues. If a law enforcement agency invites you to aid in their investigation, especially in a matter that some people think borders on legal fees, then why refuse to?” he asked.

His comments follow the High Court’s decision to issue a warrant authorising EOCO to arrest the Manhyia South MP.

EOCO told the court that its officers had exhausted what it considered reasonable means of securing Mr Baffour Awuah’s voluntary attendance in connection with an ongoing investigation.

The office is investigating alleged financial irregularities involving SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited.

It said it invited Mr Baffour Awuah twice in February to assist with the investigation in his capacity as Senior Partner of Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, a law firm engaged by SIC Life to recover funds.

Baffour Awuah, however, has disputed EOCO’s account, saying the February correspondence was addressed to the Senior Partner of his law firm in relation to the firm’s client, SIC Life.

According to the MP, a representative of the firm subsequently engaged EOCO on March 4, March 18 and April 30 and submitted a written statement on April 30.

Appiah Danquah said that if the MP believed he would ultimately be vindicated, cooperating with the investigators could have allowed him to present his side of the matter without creating the circumstances that led to the warrant.

“When they call you, just show up. Just show up and aid in the event, especially if you believe that eventually you’ll be vindicated as against your position," he noted.