An aspiring constituency chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Amasaman, Abubakari Mohammed, has condemned the conduct of Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, during a confrontation involving officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) at the Accra High Court.
According to Mohammed, the conduct exhibited by the legislator in a video circulating on social media is unacceptable and should not be excused by his position as a Member of Parliament or as a lawyer.
“The conduct of the Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, as seen in the recent video, is indefensible and warrants condemnation,” Mohammed said in a statement.
His comments follow a dramatic confrontation at the High Court complex on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, involving Baffour Awuah and a woman identified as an EOCO official.
Video footage of the incident shows the woman approaching the MP as he attempted to leave the court premises. The encounter escalated around the MP’s vehicle, with a physical confrontation subsequently occurring before Baffour Awuah drove away. The footage has since generated considerable public discussion about the conduct of both the security personnel and those accompanying the MP.
The incident occurred shortly after Baffour Awuah appeared at the court as counsel for Salomey Baffoe Awiti, a nurse who is facing an allegation of abetment of crime in connection with investigations into the “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account.
The High Court had been hearing an application for bail for Baffoe Awiti when the proceedings were adjourned to September 24 after the prosecution requested additional time to respond to the defence’s application.
Conflicting accounts over attempted arrest
The circumstances leading to the confrontation remain disputed.
Baffour Awuah has alleged that an EOCO official attempted to forcibly take him into custody without producing an arrest warrant or sufficient evidence to establish her identity as an EOCO officer. He said he feared for his safety and consequently drove away from the court premises to Parliament.
EOCO, however, has said the attempted arrest formed part of an ongoing investigation and was carried out in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.
The agency said the MP had been invited on two occasions in February 2026 to assist with the investigation but failed to honour the invitations. EOCO said it subsequently took steps to secure his attendance in accordance with the law. The office also said it would review available video footage of the incident before deciding on further action.
Baffour Awuah has disputed aspects of EOCO’s account, including the circumstances surrounding the alleged invitations.
Mohammed calls for accountability
Against this backdrop, Abubakari Mohammed said political affiliation and public office should not determine how individuals are held accountable for their conduct.
“His parliamentary status does not excuse his behavior toward the woman in the footage,” he said.
Mohammed further called on political parties to apply the same standards to their members regardless of partisan affiliation.
“Political parties must hold their members accountable and reject double standards, as no one should be considered above the law regardless of partisan affiliation,” he added.
His comments come at a time when the confrontation has triggered competing reactions from political actors and the public, with supporters of the MP questioning the manner in which EOCO sought to take him into custody, while others have focused on the conduct displayed during the physical confrontation.
The NPP leadership in the Manhyia South Constituency has also condemned what it described as a botched attempt by EOCO to arrest the MP and raised concerns about the manner in which the incident unfolded.
Mohammed, who recently declared his intention to contest the NDC constituency chairmanship in Amasaman, has previously made accountability and party unity central themes of his campaign.
The controversy surrounding the High Court incident is likely to continue as questions remain over the circumstances of the attempted arrest, the conduct of the individuals involved and the legal basis for EOCO’s action.
For now, the competing accounts from EOCO and the MP underscore the need for the incident to be examined on the basis of verifiable evidence, including the video footage and any relevant official documentation.
By Richard Bright Addo
