The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has expressed grave concern over an attempt by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest Manhyia South Member of Parliament and legal practitioner, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, at the Accra High Court Complex.
The incident occurred on September 23, 2026, while Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah was at the court premises representing a client.
In a statement issued on September 24, 2026, the GBA said videos of the confrontation that circulated widely also showed another lawyer, Enoch Anhwere Afoakwa, complaining of having been assaulted by an operative who was subsequently confirmed by EOCO to be one of its officers.
The association acknowledged that no individual is above the law but stressed that investigations and enforcement actions involving legal practitioners, particularly when they are carrying out their professional duties, must comply with constitutional guarantees, established legal procedures and the independence of the legal profession.
According to the GBA, bypassing such safeguards could create a perception of intimidation and have a chilling effect on lawyers in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.
It further warned that actions that obstruct lawyers through arbitrary or irregular measures could undermine public confidence in the justice system and the rule of law.
The GBA also referenced previous concerns raised by its National President, Mrs Efua Ghartey, about the treatment of lawyers in the course of their professional duties.
Speaking at the GBA’s 2025 Annual Conference in Wa, Mrs Ghartey reportedly stressed the need for lawyers to be able to defend clients of their choice without harassment, warning that such conduct could discourage lawyers from undertaking pro bono work.
The association also referred to remarks made by Mrs Ghartey at its Virtual Mid-Year Conference on June 5, 2026, regarding the controversial overnight detention of former Bar Vice President, Justice Minka Premo, and his young female associate, a nursing mother, at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
The GBA questioned why the individuals were subjected to such treatment rather than being formally invited beforehand, saying the circumstances raised questions about adherence to constitutional principles.
In its latest statement, jointly signed by Mrs Efua Ghartey and National Secretary Kwaku Gyau Baffour, the GBA urged EOCO and other state institutions to ensure that their operations comply with due process, fairness and the rights of individuals.
The association maintained that the independence of the legal profession remains an essential pillar of Ghana’s democratic society.