Lawmakers on the opposition bench have urged President John Dramani Mahama to rein in his administration’s officials following a dramatic confrontation at the Accra High Court on Wednesday, September 23, where operatives from the Economic and Organised Crime Office allegedly moved to detain Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.
The incident unfolded against a backdrop of rising political friction tied to the ongoing prosecution of Salomey Baffoe, a social commentator facing charges of abetting the publication of false news linked to the “Ghana Jollof” TikTok handle. Baffour Awuah, acting as legal counsel for the accused, was at the court complex to handle a bail application when the tense encounter with EOCO personnel took place.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage from the scene captured a heated verbal exchange between the legislator and a female EOCO operative outside the courtroom doors, which subsequently boiled over into a physical tussle as the MP tried to drive away from the premises.
Questions immediately swirled regarding the legal justification for the attempted apprehension, specifically whether formal summons had been issued to the parliamentarian prior to the court appearance. At the time of filing, the anti-graft agency had yet to issue an official statement clarifying the operation.
Reacting during a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin lashed out at what he termed administrative overreach, pressing the presidency to compel state agencies to strictly respect legal boundaries.
“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? Can you proudly say, the second opportunity you were given by God, you used that chance to transform your country?
“Watch these excesses, enough is enough. Call your appointees to order because this is not the Ghana we want. 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. What we are saying is that a state institution must be seen to be doing its work lawfully.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
