Kwarteng Criticises EOCO Detention of Manhyia South MP Baffour Awuah

NPP member Kwasi Kwarteng has condemned the Economic and Organised Crime Office for holding Manhyia South lawmaker Baffour Awuah in custody without granting bail.

Kwarteng argued that EOCO could have released him on self-recognition bail given his status as an elected MP with people ready to stand surety.

"At no point should bail be used as punishment," he said on TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, October 3.

He insisted that the state agency had no right to detain a known public figure when he had presented himself voluntarily.

Lawyer Martin Kpebu echoed the sentiment, stating that keeping Baffour Awuah in custody does not strengthen EOCO’s case.

"Since Baffour Awuah became aware of this in February and did not flee, I cannot understand why he remains detained," Kpebu said.

He added that the Supreme Court has ruled that all offences are bailable, making the prolonged detention questionable.

Kwarteng also pointed out that EOCO denied bail even though Baffour Awuah had been in custody for four hours without interrogation.

"EOCO goofed," Kpebu said, criticizing the agency’s handling of the matter.

National Petroleum Authority CEO Godwin Edudzi Tameklo expressed confidence that the court would grant bail when Baffour Awuah appears on Saturday, October 3.

"If the initial February invitation had been honoured, this situation might have been avoided," he said.

Edudzi explained that EOCO has not breached any law, citing Article 14 of the Constitution, which requires suspects to appear in court within 48 hours.

"We are working with the Attorney-General’s Office to meet constitutional timelines," he said in a statement dated October 2, 2026.

The statement clarified that Baffour Awuah has not been granted a GH₵50 million bail as some media outlets claimed.

"The Office urges the public to disregard reports that a GH₵50 million bail has been granted," it said.

Baffour Awuah surrendered voluntarily on October 1 and has remained in custody since then.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin visited him on October 2 and accused the Mahama administration of persecuting opposition members.

"They are using every excuse to find fault, just as a police officer stops a driver and keeps asking for items that do not matter," he said.

Afenyo-Markin described Baffour Awuah as one of the NPP’s sharpest voices and accused the government of political witch-hunting.

He warned that the current climate makes it difficult for moderate NPP members to call for restraint.

"The wicked shall not long be victorious," he added, urging party members to remain steadfast.