The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has expressed grave concern over what it describes as an attempt by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest Manhyia South Member of Parliament and lawyer, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, while he was representing a client at the Accra High Court Complex.
According to the GBA, the incident occurred on September 23, 2026, when EOCO officials allegedly attempted to arrest the MP on the premises of the court while he was performing his professional duties as a lawyer.
In a statement dated September 24, 2026, the GBA said it had also taken note of videos circulating on social media showing the attempted arrest, during which another lawyer, Mr Enock Ahenkora Afokwah, was seen complaining of being assaulted by a lady who was subsequently confirmed by EOCO to be its officer.
The Association stressed that although no individual was above the law, investigations and enforcement actions involving members of the legal profession, particularly when they are representing clients, must be undertaken in accordance with constitutional guarantees, applicable legal procedures and respect for professional independence.
The GBA warned that attempts to circumvent such safeguards could create a perception of intimidation and have a chilling effect on the legal profession.
It said lawyers play a critical role in the administration of justice and the protection of citizens’ rights, adding that actions which appear to interfere with their ability to discharge their professional responsibilities risk undermining public confidence in the justice system and the rule of law.
The Association also referred to remarks previously made by its National President, Mrs Efua Ghartey, at the 2025 GBA Annual Conference in Wa, where she stressed the need for lawyers to be able to defend clients of their choice without being heckled.
The GBA further cited remarks made by Mrs Ghartey at the Association’s Virtual Mid-Year Conference on June 5, 2026, concerning an earlier incident involving former GBA Vice President Justice Minka Premo and a young female lawyer.
According to the GBA, the two had gone to the defence of a client at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) but were arrested and detained overnight. The Association said the female lawyer, who was a nursing mother, was separated from her baby and was initially unable to feed the child.
The GBA questioned why, if the lawyers had been under security surveillance prior to their visit to the BNI, they were not invited earlier.
The Association said it trusted that state agencies would respect the constitutional freedom to practise law so that the provision of professional legal services to citizens would not be hampered.
The GBA has consequently called on EOCO and all relevant state institutions and agencies to ensure that their actions are consistent with due process, fairness and respect for the rights of all persons involved.
“The rule of law demands not only that justice be done, but that it be seen to be done,” the Association stated.
It added that the independence of the legal profession was a cornerstone of every democratic society and must be protected at all times.
The statement was signed by Mrs Efua Ghartey, National President of the GBA, and Kwaku Gyau Baffour, National Secretary.
Available next action:
