Baffour Awuah Expected to Secure Bail Today Amid Political Tensions

Edudzi Tameklo, CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, stated on October 3 that he is confident Baffour Awuah, MP for Manhyia South, will be granted bail when he appears before court that morning. He argued that if the February invitation to answer questions had been honoured promptly, the current legal situation might have been avoided, potentially sparing the lawmaker from detention.

The remarks came during a segment on TV3's Key Points programme. Tameklo emphasized that the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has not breached any legal provisions in handling the case, noting that Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution mandates that a person under investigation must be brought before a court within 48 hours. He suggested that bail could be granted without compromising ongoing investigations.

Legal commentator Martin Kpebu echoed concerns about the prolonged detention, stating that keeping Baffour Awuah in custody does not strengthen EOCO's position. He referenced a Supreme Court ruling affirming that most offences are bailable and questioned the justification for holding the MP for extended periods without formal questioning.

The MP voluntarily surrendered to EOCO on October 1 and has remained in custody since. On October 2, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin visited him and criticized the government's handling of the case, describing it as politically motivated victimisation. He likened the situation to arbitrary arrests and accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of targeting opposition voices under the guise of anti-corruption efforts.

Afenyo-Markin further alleged that state institutions are being used to suppress dissent, particularly among social media commentators and civil society actors. He called for unity within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and urged Ghanaians to demand accountability for any perceived misuse of state power.

EOCO has maintained that it is cooperating with the Attorney-General's Office to meet constitutional timelines and dismissed claims of having granted a GH₵50 million bail as false. The Office reiterated that the suspect remains in lawful custody as investigations continue.

The case has reignited debates over political fairness, state accountability, and the independence of investigative bodies, with stakeholders calling for clarity and justice.