Parliament condemns continued detention of Manhyia South MP

Parliament has raised concerns over the continued detention of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), insisting that the law must be applied in a manner that protects due process and the constitutional rights of the legislator. The MP reported himself to EOCO on October 1, 2026, after it emerged that the High Court had issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with an ongoing investigation. In a statement released on October 3, 2026, by the Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, Parliament said it was concerned that the legislator remained in custody despite voluntarily appearing before EOCO and, according to the legislature, cooperating with the investigative process. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin said the circumstances surrounding the detention raised important constitutional and institutional issues, particularly regarding the rights of the MP, parliamentary privileges and the independence of the legislature. He acknowledged that Members of Parliament are subject to the law and that any legislator suspected on reasonable grounds of committing an offence must be dealt with in accordance with the law. At the same time, Parliament noted that MPs perform constitutional duties on behalf of their constituents and are therefore subject to certain safeguards when dealing with other state institutions. According to the legislature, such protections are not intended to exempt MPs from accountability but rather to safeguard Parliament’s independence and its ability to discharge its constitutional mandate. Parliament said it had received information that the High Court had directed EOCO to execute the warrant against Baffour Awuah. Godfred Dame accuses EOCO, CID of 'targeting' political opponents However, the Speaker had not been furnished with the specific terms of the court’s directive and, as a result, would not interpret or comment on its contents. The legislature questioned why the MP continued to be held after voluntarily presenting himself to EOCO. It maintained that any continued detention must be supported by a lawful and necessary basis. EOCO, meanwhile, is expected to take Baffour Awuah before a court on Saturday, October 3, as part of the ongoing case. Parliament said the circumstances made it necessary to examine whether the continued detention of a person who had already voluntarily submitted himself to investigators was proportionate and necessary. It stressed that arrest and detention constitute significant powers of the state and must be exercised within the law, with due consideration for the fundamental rights, dignity and constitutional protections of the individual. “Where the purpose of securing a person’s attendance has already been achieved through voluntary appearance, continued detention should not become routine or punitive,” Parliament stated. It further argued that if the court’s directive required the MP to be brought before the High Court, steps should have been taken to ensure that this was done at the earliest lawful opportunity. The legislature also pointed to previous instances in which the arrest, detention or prosecution of sitting MPs had generated constitutional and procedural concerns since the beginning of the Fourth Republic. According to Parliament, these experiences point to the need for clearer procedures governing situations where investigative or prosecutorial bodies seek to arrest, detain or prosecute serving legislators. It said it would consequently review the existing constitutional and statutory provisions and, where necessary, consider legislative measures to ensure that the fight against wrongdoing does not undermine due process, parliamentary independence or the effective functioning of the legislature. Parliament also urged state institutions and public officials to exercise coercive powers responsibly, fairly and with full regard for constitutional rights. Speaker Bagbin, in addressing the issue, reiterated the principle that “a political opponent is not a political enemy,” stressing that previous abuses cannot be used to justify new ones. Parliament has therefore called for the matter involving Baffour Awuah to be handled strictly within the Constitution, applicable laws and orders of the courts, while ensuring that his rights are protected and the work of Parliament is not unnecessarily disrupted. AK/MASource: www.ghanaweb.com
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