Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, has condemned the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) attempted arrest of the Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, at the Accra High Court.
The Majority Chief Whip detailed that Article 117 of the 1992 Constitution provides a specific procedure for serving civil or criminal processes on the Speaker, Members of Parliament and the Clerk of Parliament.
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor described the attempted arrest by EOCO as “absolutely unacceptable” for them to seek to arrest a sitting MP without following the procedure he said was established under Article 117.
In a post shared on his X page, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor wrote, “HON. BAFFOUR & THE ATTEMPTED ARREST BY EOCO WITHIN THE PRECINCTS OF COURT
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1. Article 117 provides a terse procedure as to how the Speaker, MPs and the Clerk to Parliament shall be served with any Civil or Criminal processes.
2. This Constitutional protection applies strictly while the individual is on his/her way to, attending at, or returning from official parliamentary proceedings.
3. However, this provision has been effectively interpretatively enlarged to imply that any arrest of any alleged erring MP or Clerk, etc must first and foremost be channelled through the Speaker of Parliament of Ghana.
4. So far, this is the procedure in force in respect of an arrest of MPs in all cases.
5. It is therefore absolutely unacceptable for EOCO to seek to arrest a sitting Member of Parliament, especially within the precincts of Court, without applying the procedure in force regarding his Article 117 rights.
6. EOCO and other law enforcement agencies must not relate and conduct themselves in a manner that constitutes infra dignitata & affront the powers, image, dignity and the general standing of Parliament of Ghana as a coequal Arm of Government.
7. Where a law provides a procedure for a right to be exercised, it’s only that procedure that must be followed. See the case of Boyefio vrs NTHC.
8. As leaders in Parliament, we would resist any attempt to breach the established protocol & the cordial relationship that exists between Parliament and other institutions of state, including EOCO.
9. As of this moment, Parliament of Ghana is host to the ECOWAS Parliament in a major conference here in Parliament House in Accra. Such seemingly casual cases of procedural improprieties hurt the sterling image of Ghana here and abroad.
10. So therefore, if the Hon. Barffuor-Awuah is alleged to have committed any offence, for which EOCO requires his presence, by all means, let the law speak but let the law follow lawful procedure in Article 117 in doing so. We must all be guided…”
Meanwhile, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has disclosed that Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, ignored two invitations issued in February 2026 to assist with an ongoing investigation.
According to EOCO, its invitations were not honoured, prompting the Office to take steps to secure the MP’s attendance in accordance with the law.
EOCO revealed that its officers were acting in the lawful discharge of their responsibilities when they attempted to arrest the MP in connection with the investigation.
In a press statement stated, “The Office had previously invited Hon. Baffour Awuah to assist with the investigation on two occasions in February 2026. The invitations were not honoured”.
EOCO explained that the attempted arrest was one of the lawful steps it had taken to secure his attendance after the earlier invitations were not honoured.
According to EOCO, they have identified two persons who allegedly intervened to facilitate the MP’s departure from the scene and are assessing their conduct for possible further action.
EOCO maintained that being a member of Parliament does not by itself bring an investigation to an end or place an individual beyond the reach of the law.
They further disclosed that the investigation remains active and that it will review the circumstances surrounding the incident, including available video evidence, before determining its next steps.
See the post below:
HON. BAFFOUR & THE ATTEMPTED ARREST BY EOCO WITHIN THE PRECINCTS OF COURT
— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) September 23, 2026
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1. Article 117 provides a terse procedure as to how The Speaker, MPs and the Clerk to Parliament shall be served with any Civil or Criminal processes.
2. This Constitutional protection…
@ghnow_ EOCO Officials Attempt to Arrest Lawyer Nana Adjei Baffour Awuah at Accra High Court #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
