Godfred Dame questions 2-night EOCO detention of Baffour Awuah over GH¢2.2m legal fees

Godfred Dame has questioned why Manhyia South MP and lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah was kept in EOCO custody for two nights without bail in connection with an investigation into alleged GH¢2.2 million in legal fees.

The former Attorney General and Minister of Justice made the comments in a statement on Saturday, following the MP’s arrest and detention by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

Baffour Awuah’s detention followed an earlier attempt by EOCO officials to arrest him at the Accra High Court on September 23.

The MP described that encounter as an unlawful arrest and alleged that an EOCO official attempted to take him into custody. EOCO, however, said the attempted arrest was part of lawful steps to secure his attendance in an ongoing investigation.

The dispute later escalated, with the High Court issuing a warrant for Baffour Awuah’s arrest after EOCO said it had exhausted reasonable means to secure his voluntary attendance. The MP subsequently reported himself to EOCO on October 1 in the company of his lawyers and fellow MPs.

Dame has now questioned the decision to keep the legislator in custody for two nights.

“On what account does Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah (MP) spend 2 nights in EOCO custody without bail when being investigated for a ‘transaction’ from which he earned legal fees of GhC 2.2M?”

He also questioned whether the matters under investigation constituted criminal conduct.

“In any event, are the issues raised from his conduct in the matter criminal?”

Dame compared Baffour Awuah’s detention with cases involving former ministers and an MP under the previous administration.

He said Alhaji Collins Dauda was granted self-recognisance bail and “never spent a single day in custody” despite facing trial over an alleged financial loss of about US$198 million.

He also cited former Deputy Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, saying he was granted self-recognisance bail without spending a day in custody despite facing trial over offences valued at €2.3 million.

Dame further referenced Dr Dominic Ayine, saying the MP was granted bail in 2017 and never spent a day in custody while being investigated over his role in the Ameri deal.

He argued that the handling of Baffour Awuah’s case reflects a wider problem with the use of state investigative and prosecutorial powers.

“It is correct to say that the investigative and prosecutorial authority of certain state institutions is being utilised to punish political opponents and settle parochial scores.”

Dame also criticised what he described as the prioritisation of political opponents over organised crime.

“Meanwhile, real organised and economic crime like the narcotic trade reigns supreme in Ghana. The investigative bodies are busily chasing political opponents and suppressing free speech.”

He concluded that the use of state power in this manner represents a serious low point for law enforcement.

“The deployment of state power to settle scores and punish political opponents is the lowest point of law enforcement.”