Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has pleaded not guilty to charges brought against him by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and has been granted GH¢10 million bail with two sureties.
The High Court granted the bail after the prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, presented the charges against the legislator.
The two sureties are the Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho and the Member of Parliament for Effia.
Baffour Awuah is facing charges including conspiracy to commit a crime, dissipation of public funds and intentionally causing financial loss to the state.
He has also denied a money laundering allegation relating to an alleged GH¢1 million transfer to the then Managing Director of SIC Life in 2024.
The case forms part of an EOCO investigation into alleged financial transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
According to the prosecution, the investigation also covers allegations of unauthorised financial transactions, financial loss, dissipation of public funds and money laundering.
The MP’s lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, has rejected the allegations, maintaining that his client’s involvement arose from legitimate legal work undertaken by his former law firm for SIC Life Savings and Loans.
The defence previously explained that the law firm had been engaged to recover funds owed to SIC Savings and Loans by Equity Savings and Loans. The recovery process led to litigation over property attached in connection with the judgment.
A third party subsequently challenged ownership of the property, leading to further proceedings before a settlement was eventually reached.
Mr Atta Akyea disputed the prosecution’s characterisation of the settlement as the dissipation of about GH¢9.85 million, arguing that it was a commercial settlement arising from the recovery process and included legal fees.
During the bail hearing, the defence also argued that Baffour Awuah was not a flight risk and had demonstrated his willingness to cooperate with investigators.
The lawyer told the court that the MP reported to EOCO on October 1 at about 10:43 a.m., accompanied by his lawyers, following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the High Court.
Baffour Awuah was subsequently detained and questioned by EOCO, while investigators also conducted searches under warrants obtained from the court.
The prosecution, however, challenged the claim that the MP had consistently made himself available to investigators, noting that EOCO had first invited him in February 2026 and made subsequent attempts to secure his attendance.
Dr Srem-Sai also referred to an attempted arrest of the MP at the Accra High Court on September 23 and the subsequent issuance of an arrest warrant on September 30.
The High Court, after considering the arguments from both sides, granted Baffour Awuah GH¢10 million bail with two sureties, both of whom are his parliamentary colleagues.
The court further directed him to make himself available to investigators as the case progresses.
He is expected to return to court on October 26 and November 2, 2026, at 10 a.m.
The prosecution is expected to present its evidence as the case proceeds, while the allegations against Baffour Awuah remain subject to determination by the court.
