MFWA boss warns Baffour Awuah case may look like state power play

Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah, has warned that the way the state is handling the case of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah could be interpreted as a deliberate display of state power.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Braimah said he would be deeply disappointed if the allegations against the MP turned out to be unsubstantiated, arguing that such an outcome would suggest the matter was being used to demonstrate where power lies. He questioned why the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) claimed to have invited the MP since February yet could not secure his attendance, noting the MP had appeared on the same programme multiple times and had visited EOCO as a lawyer representing clients.

Braimah expressed concern that the arrest of the MP inside a courtroom while he was representing a client created a scenario that feeds into public perception of a power play rather than a straightforward pursuit of justice. He stressed that his criticism was not opposition to investigations into alleged wrongdoing, but a call for fairness, transparency and adherence to due process.

Parliamentary and civil society voices have echoed calls for due process, with calls for the MP to be granted bail as the EOCO probe continues. Critics argue that the continued detention risks undermining public trust in state institutions, while supporters maintain the state is simply enforcing the law.

The case remains under active investigation, with the next court appearance expected to determine whether the MP will be granted self-recognisance bail or remain in custody pending further hearings.