The Parliament of Ghana has officially broken its silence on the detention of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, raising serious questions regarding parliamentary privilege, civil liberties, and the exercise of state coercive power. In a formal press statement issued on Saturday, October 3, 2026, by the Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, the legislature expressed grave concern over the lawmaker's continued custody at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) following his voluntary submission to the agency.
The statement confirmed that Mr. Baffour Awuah presented himself to EOCO officials and cooperated with investigators after receiving reports that the High Court had issued a warrant for his arrest. Addressing the escalating situation, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, stated that the circumstances surrounding the lawmaker's detention represent a matter of severe institutional concern, demanding clear legal justification and proportionality from state security agencies.
While reiterating that Members of Parliament are not above the law and must submit to legitimate investigations where reasonable suspicion exists, the legislature emphasized that lawmakers do not act merely in personal capacities.
The statement underscored that constitutional safeguards exist to shield the independence of Parliament and the sovereign mandate of the electorate rather than to confer personal immunity. Parliament noted that while the High Court reportedly directed EOCO to enforce an arrest warrant, any decision to subject a cooperative citizen to overnight detention after a voluntary appearance must have a demonstrable legal necessity rather than degenerating into routine or punitive confinement.
The legislature further observed that if the judicial order required the MP to appear before the High Court, every reasonable effort ought to have been deployed to place him before the bench at the earliest lawful opportunity rather than prolonging administrative custody. Highlighting historical friction surrounding the detention of sitting lawmakers under the Fourth Republic, Parliament announced that it will examine the existing constitutional and statutory frameworks, signaling that the House may consider targeted legislation to ensure investigative powers do not disrupt legislative independence.
Issuing a strong call for institutional restraint, Speaker Bagbin warned state institutions and public officials against weaponizing coercive powers for partisan ends. The Speaker reiterated that a political opponent is not a political enemy, emphasizing that past excesses under previous administrations cannot justify current abuses of authority. Parliament urged that all matters concerning Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah be handled strictly in accordance with constitutional due process, court directives, and fundamental human rights, without unnecessary interference in his parliamentary duties.
