The anti-corruption agency says its officers backed off at the Accra High Court to avoid endangering the public, and is now examining two people seen helping the MP leave.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana's specialised agency for investigating financial and organised crime, has explained why its officers tried to arrest the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, at the Accra High Court on Tuesday, September 23, 2026.
Video of the attempt spread quickly on social media, showing a scuffle at the court forecourt. In a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Affairs, reported by Ghanaian Times, EOCO said the move was part of an active investigation and was carried out lawfully.
Two invitations, no show
According to the agency, the MP was invited twice in February 2026 to help with the investigation, and on both occasions he did not turn up. EOCO said it then moved to secure his attendance through other legal means.
"The invitations were not honoured," the statement said, adding that Tuesday's attempted arrest was "one of the lawful steps" available to it.
EOCO did not say in the statement what the underlying investigation is about.
Why the arrest was abandoned
The agency said the situation at the court became tense and its officers judged that pressing ahead could put bystanders at risk. "The situation escalated and the arrest was not successfully completed as officers assessed that a counter action would have endangered public safety," EOCO said.
It added that it has identified two people who, based on the circulating videos, appear to have stepped in to help the MP get away. Their conduct is being assessed, and EOCO said it may take further legal action.
After the failed arrest, the agency said, Baffour Awuah went to the precincts of Parliament seeking sanctuary. EOCO noted that Parliament is currently on recess.
The immunity question
Members of Parliament in Ghana enjoy certain constitutional privileges and immunities, particularly in connection with parliamentary proceedings. EOCO said it respects those protections but drew a clear line.
Being an MP, the agency said, does not by itself end an investigation or place a person beyond the reach of the law. At the same time, it said it would not take any step inconsistent with parliamentary privilege or any other constitutional protection.
What happens next
EOCO says the investigation remains open. It plans to review everything that happened on Tuesday, including the video footage in public circulation, before deciding on its next move.
The MP has given his own account of the incident, saying he feared he was being kidnapped, which is why he resisted.
For Ghanaians following from abroad, the case touches a familiar tension in the country's politics: how far state investigators can go when the person under scrutiny holds elected office. Nothing in EOCO's statement suggests charges have been filed against the MP.
