By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has accompanied investigators from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to his residence and office as the agency moves to execute a search warrant issued by the High Court.
The development comes after the MP reported himself to EOCO on Thursday, October 1, 2026, accompanied by his lawyer, former Attorney General and MP for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea.
The High Court on September 30 issued a warrant authorising EOCO to arrest Baffour Awuah and search his residence and other premises for documents and materials considered relevant to an ongoing investigation.
EOCO is investigating alleged financial irregularities, financial loss to the state and possible money laundering linked to transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited.
According to information cited in court, EOCO had previously invited the legislator to assist with its investigations but claimed that reasonable efforts to secure his voluntary attendance had been exhausted.
The agency also expressed concerns that documents relevant to the investigation could be concealed, altered or destroyed, prompting its application for authority to search and seize potentially relevant materials.
Dispute over EOCO investigation
The case has been developing since February 2026, when EOCO began inquiries into alleged financial irregularities involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
EOCO says Baffour Awuah was invited twice in his capacity as Senior Partner of Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, the law firm that had been engaged by SIC Life to recover funds.
The MP, however, has disputed EOCO’s account and maintained that he was not personally the subject of the investigation at the time.
According to Baffour Awuah, the February 10 invitation was addressed to the Senior Partner of his law firm in connection with inquiries concerning the firm’s client, SIC Life.
He said that by the time the invitation reached him, he had become a Member of Parliament and therefore referred the matter to the Clerk to Parliament for advice on how to proceed.
He further stated that a representative of the law firm subsequently cooperated with EOCO on March 4, March 18 and April 30, 2026, with a formal written statement submitted on April 30.
The MP has maintained that there was no further invitation to him personally before the attempted arrest at the Accra High Court Complex on September 23.
EOCO, led by Executive Director Raymond Archer, has rejected that position, insisting that the attempted arrest was a lawful step to secure Baffour Awuah’s attendance after what it described as failure to honour previous invitations.
Ghana Bar Association raises concerns
The September 23 incident triggered criticism from the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), which raised concerns about the manner in which the attempted arrest was carried out.
The GBA said enforcement actions involving lawyers should respect due process and the independence of the legal profession, particularly when a lawyer is appearing in court on behalf of a client.
Majority Leader James Agalga also questioned whether EOCO should have routed matters concerning a sitting Member of Parliament through the Speaker of Parliament.
SIC Life transaction under investigation
At the centre of the investigation is a financial transaction involving SIC Life Savings and Loans and the defunct Equity Savings and Loans.
Baffour Awuah has explained that SIC Life had invested approximately GH¢3.5 million with Equity Savings and Loans. Following the latter’s default, the amount reportedly increased to about GH¢14 million with accumulated interest.
His law firm was subsequently engaged to assist SIC Life in recovering the funds.
EOCO has not publicly provided a detailed account of the specific allegations against the MP regarding the recovery process.
However, reports have alleged that investigators are examining claims surrounding a 15 percent legal fee arrangement and payments allegedly connected to the then management of SIC Life.
Those claims have not been established in court and remain subject to investigation.
The latest search operation follows the High Court’s decision to grant EOCO judicial authority to arrest Baffour Awuah and search for documents relevant to its investigations.
The outcome of the search and any further action by EOCO will determine the next stage of the investigation.
Baffour Awuah has not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations against him remain matters under investigation.
