Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has claimed that he was the person who urged the Acting Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Raymond Archer, to arrest the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.
Speaking on JoyNews on Monday, October 5, 2026, Mr Gbande said he personally advised the EOCO boss to take action against the legislator, who is currently facing charges arising from an investigation into alleged financial transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
“I was the one who told the EOCO boss to arrest Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah,” Mr Gbande stated during the interview.
His comments come days after the Manhyia South MP was arrested by EOCO following his voluntary surrender to the agency on October 1, after a High Court had issued a warrant for his arrest.
EOCO has said its investigation concerns allegations including criminal conspiracy, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, tax-related offences and other matters. The agency had earlier indicated that it had made several attempts to secure Baffour Awuah’s attendance for questioning since February 2026.
The MP was subsequently arraigned before the Accra High Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court granted him GH¢10 million bail with two sureties and ordered him to make himself available to investigators whenever required.
Baffour Awuah’s legal team has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the transactions under investigation arose from legitimate legal work undertaken by his former law firm for SIC Life Savings and Loans.
The arrest has generated considerable political and public debate, particularly over the manner in which EOCO sought to secure the MP’s attendance. EOCO, however, has maintained that its actions formed part of lawful steps taken in connection with an ongoing investigation.
Mr Gbande’s latest comments are therefore likely to add another dimension to the controversy surrounding the arrest, particularly his claim that he personally urged the EOCO leadership to take action against the opposition MP.
The case remains before the court, and Baffour Awuah is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
