Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has urged Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah to fully cooperate with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as the agency investigates allegations involving SIC Life Savings and Loans. Corrections Policy
Mr Tameklo said cooperation with investigators would be in the MP’s interest and could help bring clarity to the allegations against him.
His comments come after Mr Baffour Awuah voluntarily reported to EOCO on October 1, 2026, following the issuance of a High Court warrant authorising his arrest.
Speaking on a current affairs programme on Saturday, October 3, Mr Tameklo said the Manhyia South MP should use the investigative process to respond to the issues raised rather than allow the matter to become dominated by political and public controversy.
The development follows weeks of disagreement between the legislator and EOCO over attempts to secure his attendance for questioning.
EOCO has said its investigation concerns allegations including criminal conspiracy, financial loss to SIC Savings and Loans, money laundering, tax-related offences and other matters.
The agency said Mr Baffour Awuah voluntarily surrendered at its premises on October 1 and was subsequently placed under arrest while investigative procedures continued.
Mr Tameklo argued that the matter could potentially have taken a different course if the MP had responded to an invitation issued earlier in the year.
He suggested that engaging investigators directly would allow the legislator to provide explanations and evidence relevant to the allegations.
The comments come against the background of a dispute over EOCO’s earlier invitations. The agency has maintained that it invited Mr Baffour Awuah on two occasions in February to assist with its investigation but that the invitations were not honoured.
The MP, however, has disputed EOCO’s account. Through his lawyers, he has explained that the February correspondence was addressed to him in his capacity as Senior Partner of Sarkodie, Baffour Awuah and Partners, the law firm representing SIC Life Savings and Loans.
According to the MP’s account, he informed EOCO on February 18 that he had become a Member of Parliament and had referred the matter to the Clerk of Parliament for advice.
His lawyers also said a representative of the law firm subsequently attended three interrogation sessions with EOCO on March 4, March 18 and April 30 and provided information requested by investigators.
That difference in accounts has become an important part of the public discussion surrounding the case. While EOCO maintains that it had made efforts to secure the MP’s attendance, Mr Baffour Awuah’s legal team has argued that the law firm had already cooperated with the investigation.
The disagreement intensified on September 23 when EOCO officials attempted to take the MP into custody at the Accra High Court.
Mr Baffour Awuah resisted the attempt and later sought sanctuary at Parliament, describing the incident as an unlawful arrest.
EOCO subsequently defended the action, saying its officers were acting in the lawful discharge of their statutory responsibilities.
The agency also maintained that parliamentary membership did not place an individual beyond the reach of an investigation, while acknowledging that constitutional protections and parliamentary privilege must be respected. Editorial Standards
The matter escalated further after the High Court issued a warrant authorising EOCO to arrest the MP.
He subsequently chose to report himself to the agency accompanied by his lawyer and other Members of Parliament.
EOCO later said Mr Baffour Awuah was cooperating with investigators and that he was working with the Office of the Attorney-General to ensure that constitutional and procedural requirements were followed.
The agency also cautioned the public against premature conclusions regarding the allegations.
Mr Tameklo also addressed the question of how lawmakers can seek changes to procedures governing their arrest.
He said if Members of Parliament believe the existing criminal procedure framework requires amendment, they could pursue legislative changes through Parliament.
His position reflects a broader argument that disagreements over investigative procedures should ultimately be resolved through the law and established institutional processes rather than confrontation.
For Mr Baffour Awuah, the immediate issue is now the investigation itself.
Cooperating with investigators provides an opportunity for him and his legal representatives to respond to the allegations, submit relevant documents and challenge any claims they consider inaccurate.
At the same time, the allegations remain allegations and have not been established as criminal wrongdoing by a court.
EOCO has said it will examine available evidence, pursue relevant lines of inquiry and respect the constitutional rights of everyone involved.
The case has consequently raised broader questions about the relationship between anti-corruption investigations, parliamentary privileges and the rights of individuals facing criminal inquiries. Editorial Ethics & Independence
As the investigative and judicial processes continue, the focus is likely to shift from the earlier confrontation over the arrest to the substance of the allegations and the evidence supporting them.
For now, Mr Tameklo’s message is that cooperation with EOCO offers the MP an avenue to address the issues directly and allow the appropriate institutions to determine the facts.