Manhyia South MP granted GH¢10m bail

The Accra High Court has granted Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, MP for Manhyia South, a GH¢10 million bail package backed by two sureties. Judges ruled that, despite the seriousness of the Economic and Organised Crime Office investigation, the legislator does not pose a flight risk and must stay reachable for questioning. The decision emerged after a heated exchange between his counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, and Deputy Attorney‑General Dr Justice Srem‑Sai over the conditions of release. The MP will appear again on October 26 and November 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. Akyea argued for release on self‑recognisance, pointing to his status as a sitting MP and his professional background as a lawyer. He highlighted that Baffour Awuah voluntarily presented himself to EOCO on Thursday, October 1, at 10:43 a.m., accompanied by his legal team, and spent roughly eight hours in questioning before investigators searched his home and office under court‑issued warrants. The defence insisted that this cooperative stance demonstrates an unwillingness to flee. Akyea also contested the narrative around a settlement linked to SIC Life Savings and Loans, describing the transaction as a commercial dispute rather than any dissipation of funds. He explained that his former law firm had been hired to recover money owed to SIC Savings and Loans by Equity Savings and Loans, and that a subsequent claimant’s attempt to settle the matter led to a court‑filed agreement. The lawyer rejected the characterization of the settlement as “dissipation” of GH¢9.85 million, insisting it arose from a legitimate commercial resolution and payment of legal fees. In support of his bail request, he cited precedents involving other MPs such as Abuga Pele, Mahama Ayariga, Cassiel Ato Forson and Collins Dauda. Deputy Attorney‑General Dr Justice Srem‑Sai pushed back, reminding the court of earlier invitations to EOCO in February 2026, an attempted arrest at the Accra High Court on September 23, and a warrant issued on September 30. He argued that these facts warranted strict bail conditions to guarantee the MP’s continued cooperation. After weighing the submissions, the court settled on a GH¢10 million bail with two sureties, both of whom are fellow parliamentarians, and ordered the MP to remain available for the ongoing investigation. The case remains part of a broader EOCO probe into alleged unauthorised financial transactions, criminal conspiracy, money‑laundering and tax offences involving SIC Life Savings and Loans. The investigation continues, and the MP’s next court dates are fixed for late October and early November 2026.