GBA condemns EOCO’s attempted arrest of lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at High Court

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has expressed grave concern over an attempt by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest Manhyia South Member of Parliament and legal practitioner, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, at the Accra High Court Complex. The incident took place on September 23, 2026, while he was at the court premises to represent a client.

According to the GBA, widely circulated videos of the confrontation also captured another lawyer, Mr. Enoch Anhwere Afoakwa, complaining of being assaulted by an operative subsequently confirmed by EOCO to be its officer.

While emphasizing that no individual is above the law, the association maintained that any investigation or enforcement action involving legal professionals—particularly when they are executing their duties to clients—must strictly adhere to constitutional guarantees, standard legal procedures, and professional independence. The GBA warned that bypassing these safeguards fosters a perception of intimidation and creates a chilling effect across the legal profession.

The statement stressed that actions obstructing lawyers through arbitrary or irregular measures risk undermining public confidence in both the justice system and the rule of law.

Highlighting ongoing challenges faced by legal practitioners, the GBA recalled previous admonitions by its National President, Mrs. Efua Ghartey. Speaking at the 2025 annual GBA conference in Wa, Mrs. Ghartey asserted that lawyers must enjoy the freedom to defend clients of their choice without facing harassment, cautioning that such behavior could discourage pro bono services.

Furthermore, at the GBA’s Virtual Mid-Year Conference on June 5, 2026, Mrs. Ghartey referenced the controversial overnight detention of former Bar Vice President Justice Minka Premo and his young female associate—a nursing mother at the BNI. The association questioned why targeted individuals were subjected to such treatment rather than being formally invited beforehand, noting that it leaves serious unanswered questions regarding adherence to constitutional tenets.

In its official statement dated September 24, 2026, and jointly signed by National President Mrs. Efua Ghartey and National Secretary Kwaku Gyau Baffour, the GBA urged EOCO and all state institutions to ensure their operations respect due process, fairness, and individual rights. Concluding its address, the association underscored that the independence of the legal profession remains an indispensable cornerstone of Ghana's democratic society.