Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin has questioned the Economic and Organised Crime Office’s (EOCO) decision to detain Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah after the lawmaker voluntarily reported himself to the agency.
Baffour Awuah, who is also a lawyer, reported to EOCO on Thursday, October 1, accompanied by his legal team and some Members of Parliament.
His appearance followed the issuance of a warrant by the Accra High Court for his arrest in connection with an ongoing investigation into transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
The warrant was obtained after EOCO raised concerns about the MP’s failure to respond to invitations to assist with its investigations.
However, Afenyo-Markin has raised questions about whether the agency exhausted all available avenues to secure the MP’s cooperation before resorting to an arrest warrant.
In a Facebook post, the Minority Leader said Baffour Awuah had previously engaged EOCO through the appropriate parliamentary channels and had referred invitations from the agency to the Clerk of Parliament.
He therefore demanded the MP’s immediate release, while insisting that the call should not be interpreted as an attempt to obstruct or prejudge the investigation.
“We do not by this seek to prejudge the SIC Life Savings & Loans investigation. No one is above the law, EOCO included,” Afenyo-Markin said.
He, however, argued that the circumstances surrounding the MP’s detention raised concerns about the use of state investigative powers against opposition figures.
“But we believe the MP’s treatment forms part of a broader attempt to intimidate critical opposition voices,” he added.
Afenyo-Markin also called for an end to what he described as the misuse of arrest and prosecution as tools to intimidate political opponents or suppress free expression.
The Minority Leader’s comments come as EOCO continues its investigation into alleged unauthorised financial transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
The investigation reportedly includes allegations of financial loss, dissipation of public funds and money laundering.
Baffour Awuah has denied wrongdoing through his lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, who maintains that the transactions under investigation arose from legitimate legal services provided by the MP’s law firm to SIC Life.
The allegations against the MP have not been determined by a court.
