The Ashanti Regional branch of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned an attempted arrest of Manhyia South lawmaker Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at the Accra High Court, describing the incident as unlawful.

In a statement signed by its Regional Secretary, Dr Francis Adomako, the party said an officer who identified herself as being from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) approached the MP at about noon on Wednesday and attempted to serve him with an invitation or arrest him.

The incident, which occurred at the court premises and was captured on video, led to a confrontation between the officer and the MP’s lawyers.

The NPP said Baffour Awuah was at the court in his capacity as counsel for Salomey Baffoe Awiti, a nurse who is currently in police custody and whose bail application was before the court.

The party called on EOCO to investigate the conduct of the officer and take appropriate action, alleging that the attempted arrest breached constitutional procedures governing Members of Parliament.

The Ashanti NPP also described the incident as an “attempted kidnapping”, while accusing state security agencies of unlawfully targeting members of the opposition party.

Dr.Francis Adomako, COKA, Lawyer

It further linked the incident to the ongoing controversy over cocaine trafficking in Ghana and called on the Speaker of Parliament to establish a bipartisan committee to investigate what it described as a cocaine scandal under the current National Democratic Congress government.

The party said any actions against its members that are intended to prevent them from speaking about the cocaine allegations would be viewed as intimidation.

It also called on the National Peace Council, Ghana Bar Association, civil society groups, religious leaders and traditional authorities to speak out against what it described as abuses of citizens’ rights.

The Ashanti NPP said it would use all lawful and constitutional means available to challenge what it considers unlawful actions by EOCO and other state agencies.

EOCO has said the attempted arrest of Baffour Awuah was linked to an ongoing investigation and that the agency had previously invited him to assist with the inquiry.

The circumstances surrounding the attempted arrest and the legal basis for the action remain disputed.Source:Jonathan Ofori