Parliament Raises Grave Concern Over Continued Detention Of Manhyia South MP By EOCO
By Dominic Duut | Noblenews
The Parliament of Ghana has expressed grave concern over the continuous detention of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).
In a statement issued by the Parliamentary Service on 3rd October 2026, signed by the Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, Parliament disclosed that the MP voluntarily presented himself to EOCO after reports that the High Court had issued a warrant for his arrest.
According to the statement, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, considers the circumstances surrounding the Member’s detention a matter of serious concern, raising questions about the rights of the Member, the privileges and independence of Parliament, and the proper exercise of investigative powers.
Parliament’s Position
The statement clarified that while Parliament affirms unequivocally that Members of Parliament are not above the law and must face due process when reasonably suspected of committing an offence, the law also recognizes certain safeguards governing interactions between MPs 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 statement noted.
The Speaker, according to the release, has been informed that the High Court directed EOCO to enforce the warrant against the MP. However, the Speaker has not yet seen the terms of that directive.
Parliament argued that once the Member voluntarily presented himself and submitted to EOCO’s 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 said it is particularly concerned about the necessity and proportionality of detaining a Member who voluntarily reported and cooperated with the process.
The statement stressed that the power to arrest or detain is a serious coercive power of the State which must always be exercised lawfully, reasonably and with due regard to constitutional rights and dignity.
“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,” it added.
Parliament To Examine Procedures & Calls For Institutional Restraint
Parliament noted that this is not the first time questions have arisen concerning the arrest, detention or prosecution of sitting MPs, recalling previous experiences since the advent of the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
The House said it will therefore examine the existing constitutional and statutory framework and, where necessary, consider appropriate legislation to ensure accountability, due process and rule of law coexist with the independent and effective functioning of Parliament.
In a call for institutional restraint, Parliament urged all state institutions and public officials to exercise coercive powers with restraint, fairness 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,” the statement said.
Parliament therefore urged that all matters concerning Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour 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.
