The Accra High Court has officially released the details of the criminal charges levelled against Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, following his arrest and prosecution by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The MP, who is also a private legal practitioner and Senior Partner at Sarkodie Baffour Awuah and Partners, has been granted GH¢10 million bail with two sureties after pleading not guilty to all charges.
The Three Charges
The charge sheet, signed by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, details three counts against the legislator.
Count One — Conspiracy to Commit a Crime: The prosecution alleges that in 2024, while acting as professional lawyer for SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited, Baffour Awuah agreed to act together with the Managing Director of the company to intentionally dissipate the sum of GH¢9,850,000 belonging to the company.
Count Two — Intentionally Causing Financial Loss to the State: The charge sheet states that in 2024, within the jurisdiction of the court, Baffour Awuah did, in the course of a business transaction with SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited, intentionally cause the said company to lose the sum of GH¢9,850,000.
Count Three — Money Laundering: According to the charge sheet, Baffour Awuah is alleged to have assisted in transferring a sum of GH¢1 million to the then Managing Director of SIC Life Savings and Loans. The document additionally alleges that the MP, at the time of the transfer, knew that the money had been acquired through crime. The charge states that he acted “for the purpose of assisting to evade the legal consequences of a crime”.
Background: The SIC Life Transaction
The charges stem from an EOCO investigation into financial transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited and Equity Savings and Loans. The MP’s former law firm, Sarkodie Baffour Awuah and Partners, had been engaged by SIC Life Savings and Loans to recover about GH¢3.5 million invested with Equity Savings and Loans. The amount reportedly increased to about GH¢14 million with accrued interest before a settlement was reached.
Baffour Awuah has argued that the inquiries should be directed at his former law firm rather than him, adding that representatives of the firm had cooperated with investigators and provided statements and information.
The Arrest and Bail
EOCO had earlier sought to secure Baffour Awuah’s attendance for questioning and subsequently obtained a High Court warrant for his arrest and the search and seizure of documents relevant to the investigation. The MP reported himself to EOCO on October 1, 2026, accompanied by his lawyers led by Samuel Atta Akyea. He was detained and questioned as part of the investigation.
He was initially granted GH¢50 million bail with three sureties by EOCO. He was later escorted to his law chambers and residence at about 5:00 p.m. for searches. On October 3, 2026, the Accra High Court granted him GH¢10 million bail with two sureties.
The court, presided over by Justice Charity Akosua Asem, a Court of Appeal Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, ordered the MP to deposit his passport with the Court Registry and to make himself available to EOCO whenever required for investigations. The two sureties — the MPs for Bosome Freho (Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh) and Effia (Isaac Boamah-Nyarko) — were present in court.
Prosecution led by Dr. Justice Srem-Sai did not oppose the grant of bail but urged the court to impose conditions that would ensure the accused remained available to the court and investigators. He told the court that EOCO had made several attempts to secure Nana Baffour Awuah’s attendance during investigations.
Defence counsel Samuel Atta Akyea urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the accused was a sitting MP and was not a flight risk or likely to interfere with investigations. “The accused person is not a flight risk and he went to EOCO on his own volition. We are ready to comply with reasonable terms that the court may impose on us,” he said.
The court directed the prosecution to file its disclosures by October 22, 2026, to enable it to conduct a Case Management Conference on November 2, 2026.
Who is Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah?
Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah was born on July 27, 1982, in Achiase in the Ashanti Region. He attended Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and later studied law in the United Kingdom, where he was called to the Bar at the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. He is a Barrister at Law and was the Senior Partner at Sarkodie Baffour Awuah and Partners, a law firm based in Accra.
He contested and won the NPP primaries for Manhyia South in July 2024, securing 71% of the votes to replace outgoing MP and Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh. In the December 2024 general elections, he secured an impressive 76.23% of the votes to win the parliamentary seat. He assumed office on January 7, 2025.
In January 2025, Baffour Awuah garnered widespread acclaim for his performance during the ministerial vetting of Dr. Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice-Designate. Being his first time in parliament and on the Appointments Committee, his insightful questions and measured approach showcased the depth of his knowledge.
Parliament’s Concerns
Parliament raised concerns over the continued detention of Baffour Awuah by EOCO, calling for respect for his constitutional rights, parliamentary privileges, and due process. The parliamentary position came against the background of the investigation, with Parliament stressing that Members of Parliament are not above the law but that the circumstances surrounding his detention raised questions about the proper exercise of investigative powers.
EOCO said it had invited Baffour Awuah on two occasions in February 2026 to assist with the investigation. The agency later took steps to secure his attendance after he did not honour the invitations. On September 23, EOCO officers attempted to arrest the MP at the Accra High Court premises, but the attempted arrest was not completed after officers assessed that further action could have endangered public safety.
Political Reactions
The case has generated significant political debate. Media personality Afia Pokua, popularly known as Vim Lady, criticised EOCO over its handling of the investigation, describing it as increasingly resembling a political witch-hunt. She argued that the situation risks creating the perception that members of the opposition NPP are being deliberately targeted. “The rate that the EOCO is going, it is becoming a big embarrassment to Ghana, and it is becoming so obvious that we have something to hide,” she said.
Baffour Awuah’s lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, has previously dismissed the allegations, arguing that his client’s involvement in the matter was connected to legitimate legal services provided to SIC Life.
EOCO’s Position
EOCO has maintained that its investigation will be conducted professionally, independently, and in accordance with due process. The agency said it would continue to pursue all relevant lines of inquiry and examine the available evidence, and that all persons involved in the investigations would be afforded their rights under the Constitution and applicable laws. It urged the public to allow the investigative and judicial processes to proceed without speculation or premature conclusions regarding the culpability of any individual.
What’s Next
The case will proceed with the prosecution expected to present evidence to support the charges. The prosecution is being supported by Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Prempeh and EOCO officers Leo Anthony Asiamah, Emmanuel Dzakata, and Rabiatu Abdulai. The disclosures are expected to be filed by October 22, 2026, with a Case Management Conference scheduled for November 2, 2026.
