Ghana MP's Dramatic Escape: Baffour Awuah Defends Flight From EOCO Arrest as Kidnapping

Manhyia South Member of Parliament and lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah was at the center of a chaotic incident on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, involving officials from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) outside the Accra High Court. The MP, who had just addressed the media following court proceedings, recounted a tense encounter that he described as an unlawful arrest and an attempted abduction.

According to Mr. Baffour Awuah, an EOCO official, a woman, approached him and firmly held his wrist, stating he was needed at the EOCO office. He described her grip as unusually strong and said he had to forcefully free himself. The MP then offered to drive himself to EOCO in his own vehicle, accompanied by his colleague Afuaqua. However, the official reportedly insisted that he use their vehicle, rejecting his proposal. Furthermore, when asked to produce identification proving she was from EOCO, the official allegedly failed to do so, heightening Mr. Baffour Awuah's suspicion that he was facing a kidnapping attempt, or what he termed "state-sponsored kidnappings." Citing these concerns for his safety, he refused to enter the EOCO vehicle and instead drove away, ultimately seeking sanctuary at Parliament, even though the House was on recess.

Mr. Baffour Awuah vehemently rejected suggestions that he was fleeing a lawful arrest, maintaining that the incident constituted an "unlawful arrest" and an "attempt to abduct" him by persons who disregarded legal procedures. He defended his actions by arguing that one seeks sanctuary against kidnappers. He stated his readiness to appear before EOCO provided the proper legal process was followed, asserting that the Office had not properly invited him personally. The MP, a lawyer by profession, emphasized his commitment to boldness and courage, especially when defending vulnerable clients, referencing his client Salomey Bafoo, a "poor lady from a village in Techiman Hansua with three minor children," whose fundamental human rights he argued had been infringed upon by state actors. He accused EOCO boss Raymond Archer of abusing state power and suggested that EOCO needed better legal advice for its actions. Mr. Baffour Awuah also alleged that an EOCO official assaulted his colleague, Afuaqua, bruising his eye, and advised him to lodge a formal complaint. He expressed confidence in his position, stating that the controversy would not deter him from defending his client and that he was "secured and fortified by the Most High God."

In response to the incident, EOCO issued a statement confirming that its officers had attempted to arrest the MP in connection with an ongoing investigation. The Office clarified that the attempted arrest was not completed because the situation escalated, and officers assessed that proceeding further could endanger public safety. EOCO also indicated that Mr. Baffour Awuah had previously declined two invitations in February 2026 to assist with an investigation. A 7-month-old letter, dated February 27, 2026, and signed by EOCO Acting Executive Director Raymond Archer, surfaced, showing that the Office had invited Mr. Baffour Awuah in his capacity as Senior Partner of Sarkodie Baffour Awuah and Partners. EOCO disagreed with his decision to forward their confidential invitation to the Clerk of Parliament for advice, arguing that the invitation was addressed to him as an officer of a law firm, not as an MP, and warned of compulsory measures if the invitation was not honored. While respecting constitutional privileges and immunities of Members of Parliament, EOCO stressed that parliamentary membership does not terminate an investigation or place an individual beyond the reach of the law.

Lawyers for Mr. Baffour Awuah, however, disputed EOCO's account of unhonored invitations. Their statement clarified that the February 2026 correspondence was addressed to him as the Senior Partner regarding an investigation involving the firm's client, SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited, and that Mr. Baffour Awuah was not the subject of the investigation personally. It stated that upon receiving the initial invitation, he informed EOCO that he had since become an MP and referred the matter to the Clerk of Parliament for advice. Furthermore, a lawful representative of the firm subsequently cooperated with EOCO, attending three separate interrogation sessions in March and April 2026 and providing all requested information, with no further invitations issued since. The law firm suggested that the attempted arrest on Wednesday might have been triggered by Mr. Baffour Awuah's recent high-profile role as legal counsel for Salomey Awiti Bafoh, though this claim has not been independently established.

The incident also drew commentary from legal and government circles. Julius Kwame Anthony, Press Secretary for the Ministry of the Interior, suggested that the process of arresting an MP, despite EOCO's legal authority, should have been channeled through Parliament for greater decorum, noting that notice is typically given to the Speaker. He also criticized similar tactics used against other MPs in the past. Legal practitioner Samson Lardy Anyenini questioned the broad interpretation of parliamentary privilege under Article 117 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. He argued that this privilege applies specifically when an MP is "on his way to, attending at or returning from" parliamentary proceedings, and should not be a blanket protection, especially when Parliament is on recess. Mr. Anyenini referenced Speaker Alban Bagbin's 2026 clarification that security agencies do not require permission to arrest or invite an MP, but must notify his office and provide details. This ongoing dispute highlights the complex interplay between parliamentary privilege, legal processes, and the enforcement powers of state agencies.