Parliament has raised serious concerns over the continued detention of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), following his voluntary surrender to the agency last Thursday.
In a statement dated Saturday, October 3, 2026, and signed by Parliament’s Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, the institution called for the immediate release of the lawmaker.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PARLIAMENT EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER THE CONTINUOUS DETENTION OF HON. NANA AGYELBAFFOUR AWUAH, MP FOR MANHYIA SOUTH
Parliament has learnt, with grave concern the continuous detention of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), after the Member voluntarily presented himself to EOCO following reports that the High Court had issued a warrant for his arrest.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, considers the circumstances surrounding the Member’s detention a matter of serious concern to Parliament, raising questions about the rights of the Member, the privileges and independence of Parliament, and the proper exercise of investigative powers.
Parliament’s Position
Parliament affirms unequivocally that Members of Parliament are not above the law. Where a Member is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence, the law must take its course. At the same time, Members of Parliament do not act merely in their personal capacities. The law, therefore, recognizes certain safeguards governing interactions between Members and other organs of State. These safeguards are intended not to shield Members from accountability, but to protect the independence of Parliament and the mandate of the people they represent.
The Speaker has been informed that the High Court directed EOCO to enforce the warrant against the Member. The Speaker has not yet seen the terms of that directive and therefore does not purport to interpret it. However, once the Member voluntarily presented himself to EOCO and submitted to its processes, any decision to continue holding him in custody, ought to have a clear and demonstrable basis in law and necessity.
Concern Over Overnight Detention
Parliament is particularly concerned about the necessity and proportionality of the detention of a Member who voluntarily reported to EOCO and, as Parliament understands it, cooperated with the process.
The power to arrest or detain is a serious coercive power of the State. It must always be exercised lawfully, reasonably and with due regard to the constitutional rights and dignity of every person.
Where the purpose of securing a person’s attendance has already been achieved through voluntary appearance, continued detention should not become routine or punitive. If the warrant or a court order required the Member to be brought before the High Court, every reasonable effort should have been made to place him before the Court at the earliest lawful opportunity.
Parliament Will Examine the Applicable Procedures
This is not the first time questions have arisen concerning the arrest, detention or prosecution of sitting Members of Parliament, Parliament recalls previous experiences involving Members, since the advent of the second Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
These episodes demonstrate the need for greater clarity concerning the procedures applicable when investigative or prosecutorial authorities seek to arrest, detain or prosecute a sitting Member of Parliament.
Parliament will therefore examine the existing constitutional and statutory framework and, where necessary, consider appropriate legislation to ensure accountability, due process and the rule of law coexist with the independence and effective functioning of Parliament.
A Call for Institutional Restraint
Parliament calls on all state institutions and public officials to exercise coercive powers with restraint, fairess and full respect for constitutional rights. The Rt Hon Speaker reiterates that a political opponent is not a political enemy. Past excesses cannot justify present excesses. Ghana cannot build a stronger democracy by perpetuating a cycle in which questionable conduct is defended merely because similar conduct occurred under a previous administration. This cycle must end.
Parliament therefore urges that all matters concerning Hon. Nana Agyei Baffuor Awuah be handled strictly in accordance with the Constitution, the law and all applicable orders of the courts, with full respect for his rights and without any unnecessary interference with the constitutional work of Parliament.
