An Accra High Court has authorised the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, as investigators intensify their probe into alleged financial irregularities involving SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited.
The court has also granted EOCO authority to search for and seize documents considered relevant to the investigation.
The development marks a new stage in the dispute between the anti-graft agency and the legislator, following an unsuccessful attempt by EOCO officials to take him into custody at the Accra High Court complex on September 23, 2026.
EOCO cites difficulty securing MP’s attendance
In seeking the warrant, lawyers for EOCO told the court that investigators had exhausted what they considered reasonable efforts to secure the MP’s voluntary attendance.
The agency also expressed concern that documents relevant to its investigation could be concealed, altered or destroyed, forming part of the basis for its request for both an arrest warrant and search-and-seizure authority.
EOCO has maintained that it invited Baffour Awuah twice in February 2026 to assist with the investigation, but that the invitations were not honoured. The agency subsequently described the September 23 attempted arrest as a lawful step to secure his attendance.
MP disputes EOCO’s account
Baffour Awuah has rejected EOCO’s account, maintaining that the February correspondence was directed to him in his capacity as Senior Partner of Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners and related to the firm’s work for SIC Life Savings and Loans.
His lawyers have said a representative of the law firm subsequently engaged EOCO on March 4, March 18 and April 30, with a written statement submitted on April 30.
The MP has therefore maintained that he was not personally the subject of the investigation and that there was no further invitation to him before the September 23 incident.
Investigation centres on SIC Life recovery
The investigation concerns legal work undertaken by Baffour Awuah’s former law firm for SIC Life Savings and Loans in connection with efforts to recover funds from the defunct Equity Savings and Loans.
The MP has explained that SIC Life had invested about GH¢3.5 million with Equity Savings and Loans, with the liability subsequently increasing to about GH¢14 million with interest. His firm was engaged to pursue recovery of the funds.
EOCO has not publicly set out a final finding against the legislator. Reports have, however, indicated that investigators are examining alleged arrangements surrounding legal fees and payments connected to the recovery process. Those matters remain allegations under investigation.
The September 23 attempted arrest had already generated debate over the treatment of a sitting MP and lawyer. Majority Leader James Agalga criticised the manner in which the arrest was attempted and argued that EOCO should have engaged Parliament through the Speaker.
The Ghana Bar Association also criticised the manner of the attempted arrest and called for due process and respect for professional independence.
With the latest court order, EOCO now has judicial authorisation to proceed with the arrest and search measures as part of its investigation.
