Minority Urges Mahama to Call Appointees to Order Over EOCO-MP Incident

The Minority in Parliament has urged President John Dramani Mahama to call his appointees to order following the reported attempt by officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to take Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah into custody at the Accra High Court.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 23, amid growing tensions over the arrest and prosecution of social commentator Salomey Baffoe.

Baffoe is facing a charge of abetment of crime in connection with the alleged publication of false information linked to content associated with the “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account.

Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, who is representing Baffoe as her lawyer, was at the High Court for proceedings on her bail application when the reported encounter with persons identified as EOCO officials occurred.

Reports indicate that the officials sought to take the MP into custody. However, questions remained over the circumstances of the incident, including whether he had been formally invited by EOCO and the legal basis for the reported attempt to arrest him.

Videos circulating from the scene showed an exchange between the MP and a woman who identified herself as an EOCO official. The situation later reportedly became confrontational as Baffour Awuah attempted to leave the court premises in his vehicle.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin criticised what he described as excesses by the government and called on President Mahama to ensure that state institutions operate within the confines of the law.

“Mr. President, reflect on your legacy. You are left with almost just 2 years from exiting office. The question is, what would you tell Ghanaians when you are in your quiet moment?” he said.

He questioned whether the President could look back on his second opportunity in office and say he had used it to transform the country.

“Watch these excesses, enough is enough. Call your appointees to order because this is not the Ghana we want,” Afenyo-Markin added.

The Minority Leader stressed that his side was not opposed to accountability or the lawful work of state institutions.

“We are not against accountability and we always say that. We are not against any state institution going about its lawful duty as enshrined in any enactment or the Constitution,” he said.

He added that the concern was that state institutions must conduct their operations in accordance with the law.

“What we are saying is that a state institution must be seen to be doing its work lawfully,” Afenyo-Markin stated.