By Issah Olegor
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has moved to the office and residence of Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, to execute a search warrant issued by the High Court as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial offences involving SIC Life Savings & Loans Company Limited.
The development followed more than an hour of questioning of the legislator at the EOCO headquarters in Accra on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Baffour Awuah had earlier reported himself to the investigative agency after a High Court warrant authorised his arrest.
He arrived at the EOCO premises accompanied by his lawyer, Samuel Atta Kyea, and several parliamentary colleagues. Following the interrogation, EOCO officials proceeded to the MP’s office and residence to conduct searches under the authority granted by the court. The searches form part of the agency’s efforts to obtain documents or other material considered relevant to its investigation.
The latest action is the newest development in a matter that has unfolded in recent past and has already generated controversy following an attempted arrest of the MP at the Accra High Court on September 23. That incident occurred after Baffour Awuah had appeared in court as a lawyer representing Salomey Awity Baffoe.
The encounter between the MP and EOCO officials resulted in a confrontation, with the legislator subsequently disputing the manner in which the agency sought to take him into custody.
EOCO subsequently maintained that the attempted arrest was connected to an investigation for which the MP had previously been invited. The agency told the High Court that it had exhausted reasonable means of securing his voluntary attendance, leading the court on September 30 to issue a warrant authorising his arrest. Baffour Awuah nevertheless appeared voluntarily at the EOCO office on October 1, accompanied by his legal counsel and colleagues from Parliament. EOCO later confirmed that, after his surrender, he was placed under arrest and was cooperating with investigators as the investigative process continued.
In a statement issued on October 1, EOCO said the MP’s voluntary surrender followed several months of efforts to secure his attendance in connection with allegations including criminal conspiracy, financial loss to SIC Savings and Loans, money laundering, tax-related offences and other matters under investigation.
The agency said it had commenced the applicable investigative and operational procedures following his appearance and assured the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and in accordance with due process. EOCO also urged the public to avoid speculation or premature conclusions regarding the culpability of any person connected to the investigation.
The substantive investigation centres on alleged unauthorised financial transactions at SIC Life Savings & Loans Company Limited. Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, has said investigators are examining suspected offences including financial loss, dissipation of public funds and money laundering.
The dispute over the MP’s attendance at EOCO has also produced competing accounts. EOCO has said Baffour Awuah was invited twice in February 2026 but did not honour the invitations.
The MP, however, has disputed aspects of that account, arguing that the invitations were directed to his former law firm, Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, which represented SIC Life Savings & Loans.
According to his account, representatives of the firm subsequently appeared before EOCO and provided information requested by investigators.
The Deputy Attorney-General has rejected the suggestion that the MP was prevented from responding to the investigation, arguing that Baffour Awuah had opportunities to appear before EOCO but chose not to honour the invitation.
Dr Srem-Sai also explained that EOCO would not have been expected to arrest him while he was at the agency representing a client in his professional capacity as a lawyer. The September 23 confrontation also attracted attention from the Ghana Bar Association, which expressed concern about the attempted arrest of the MP at the High Court while he was representing a client. The Association also raised concerns about an alleged assault involving another lawyer during the incident.
