Lead Counsel for the Manhyia South MP, Samuel Atta Akyea, has said EOCO’s detention of MP Baffour Awuah, is a breach of legal process calling the action ‘mischief and subterfuge’ that derails the MP’s parliamentary and community responsibilities.

The lawmaker has questioned the continued detention of his client by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), saying the lawmaker should be released on bail.

He argued that his client had spent about five hours answering questions from investigators and that, he was initially given assurances that EOCO would seek approval to grant him bail.

“After five hours of interrogation, and them assuring us that they are going to seek approval to grant him bail, I am highly disappointed that they have detained him one more time,” Akyea said.

“I am hearing some funny stories that tomorrow being a Saturday, there will be a sitting judge to consider bail for my client…You never went to seek a bench warrant. You wanted an arrest warrant; you wanted to arrest him. Then they gave you the arrest warrant. Then my client voluntarily came to you,” he argued.

EOCO has said it was working with the Office of the Attorney-General to bring the MP before a weekend court, citing constitutional timeframes and procedural requirements governing bail. The agency did not disclose the specific court or time of the proposed appearance.

The former Abuakwah South MP said the continued detention was particularly concerning because his client is a sitting MP and his constituents were expecting him to participate in the NPP’s national delegates conference and elections in Kumasi.

“What is even sad is that the whole of his constituency is also waiting for him so that they will vote validly at the NPP delegates conference in Kumasi,” he said.

MINORITY CAUCUS VISIT

Members of the Minority side led by the leader, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, paid a curtesy call on the MP, in solidarity to his plight.

Addressing the media, the leader said the continuous pursuit of opposition members by the NDC government is an attempt to silence critical voices and instill fear among those expected to scrutinize government business.

Speaking after visiting Baffour Awuah, who is currently in custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on October 2, Afenyo-Markin said the former MP remains in high spirits despite his predicament.

"Every one of my colleagues is being pursued in one form or the other. Sometimes as a leader, you have colleagues who are supposed to interrogate matters, scrutinize and they are afraid. Baffour was one of our young sharpshooters, hard working. And look at what is happening today. But this will not break us," he said.

"Seeing him behind the counter in cells, I told him that look, the forebearers who brought this party into being suffered more than you. So Baffour, don't give up. He's in high spirit," he added.

Afenyo-Markin called on members of the NPP to remain united and committed to the party's cause, stressing that unity is needed to bring the party's flagbearer to power.

"I call on every NPP member to seize this opportunity and stay committed to the cause of the party. We need unity. Unity to bring our flag bearer to power and to work for the people of Ghana," he said.

He accused the NDC administration of perpetuating a vicious cycle of targeting political opponents upon assuming office, a move he said makes it difficult for moderates within the NPP to call for calm when they return to power.

"What NDC is doing, they are making it extremely difficult for even moderates within NPP to call for calm tomorrow. They are making it difficult. They are causing a lot of pain. We must bring an end to this vicious cycle of a political party coming into office and its first focus is attack opponents, find fault, find excuse," he stated.

POLICE CHECKS ANALOGY

Using an analogy of police checks, he said the government was deliberately finding fault with its opponents.

"Those of you who have cars, if a police officer arrest you or stops you and first asks you your license, you give him license. The next, where is your triangle? The next thing, where is your fire extinguisher? That is exactly what NDC is doing. It's not fair. We are all in this system together. We are all in this together as one big family. We are supposed to sustain the democracy," he said.

CORRUPTION TAGS

Afenyo-Markin further alleged that the government was using corruption tags to silence critics, including social media activists.

"If you talk, then they want to tag you with corruption. Thinking that if they tag you with corruption, that is the end. That will shut you. Then you can't talk.

CHALLENGE TO THE NDC

He also threw a challenge to the NDC, asking what single legacy initiative President John Dramani Mahama would be remembered for by 2028.

"So, I throw this back to my friends in NDC. If we get to 2028 and the people are demanding a single initiative that His Excellency President Mahama would be remembered for, what is that one thing? I leave the answer to them. I'm sad," he said.

The investigation includes allegations of criminal conspiracy, financial loss to SIC Savings and Loans, money laundering and tax-related offences, according to EOCO. The allegations remain under investigation.