Leave Baffour Awuah alone and pursue the kingpins behind drug trade - Afenyo tells EOCO

Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin has challenged the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to intensify efforts to identify and pursue the financiers and organisers behind Ghana-linked drug trafficking networks.

His comments followed the arrest of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, by EOCO in connection with an ongoing investigation into transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, October 1, 2026, Afenyo-Markin questioned what he described as a lack of comparable urgency in pursuing major drug trafficking networks.

“Ghanaians want to know: who are the financiers, organisers and beneficiaries? Where is the comparable zeal of our security agencies in pursuing them?” he wrote.

Afenyo-Markin referenced several major drug seizures linked to Ghana in recent months.

He cited the seizure of nearly 4,500 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Port of Amsterdam, reportedly concealed in timber supplied by a Ghanaian company, as well as the interception of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at Dunkirk in France from a container reportedly shipped from Ghana.

He also cited the seizure in Australia of approximately 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, reportedly concealed in a consignment containing Ghanaian charcoal, and the interception of more than 3.3 tonnes of cocaine at Pedu Junction in Ghana.

The drug seizures have triggered increased scrutiny of Ghana’s ports, cargo inspection systems and the country’s role in international trafficking networks. The Minority has also called for parliamentary scrutiny of the seizures.

Afenyo-Markin argued that EOCO and other security agencies should focus on following the money, tracing assets and identifying those who finance and organise drug trafficking operations.

“EOCO has statutory powers to investigate organised economic crime, trace criminal proceeds, and seek lawful asset freezes and confiscation. Ghanaians deserve a public account of how those powers are being deployed against narcotics networks,” he said.

Afenyo-Markin also criticised the manner in which Baffour Awuah was brought before EOCO.

The Manhyia South MP voluntarily reported to EOCO on October 1 accompanied by his lawyer and other MPs. EOCO subsequently placed him under arrest as part of its investigation.

EOCO said the investigation concerns allegations including criminal conspiracy, financial loss to SIC Savings and Loans, money laundering and tax-related offences. The agency has urged the public to avoid speculation or premature conclusions about the MP’s culpability, stressing that the investigation remains ongoing and will be conducted in accordance with due process.

Afenyo-Markin, however, disputed EOCO’s account of its earlier efforts to secure Baffour Awuah’s attendance. He said the MP had referred previous invitations from EOCO to the Clerk of Parliament and questioned whether the agency had adequately engaged Parliament before seeking an arrest warrant.

The High Court subsequently issued a warrant authorising EOCO to arrest Baffour Awuah and search for and seize documents relevant to its investigation. The court directed that the warrant be executed through the Speaker of Parliament.

Afenyo-Markin said the Minority was not seeking to prejudge the SIC Life Savings and Loans investigation but maintained that the MP’s treatment raised concerns about the use of investigative powers against opposition figures.

“No one is above the law, EOCO included,” he wrote.

The Minority Leader called for stronger collaboration between EOCO and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in tackling drug trafficking.

“EOCO and NACOC must collaborate. Follow the money. Trace the assets. Pursue the kingpins,” he said.

He also linked the drug trafficking concerns to illegal mining, calling for greater accountability over networks involved in organised economic crime.

Among his demands, Afenyo-Markin called for the release of Baffour Awuah, an end to what he described as the misuse of arrest and prosecution to intimidate political opponents, and intensified investigations into narcotics and illegal-mining networks.

The comments come as Ghana faces increased scrutiny following a series of international drug seizures involving consignments reportedly originating from or linked to Ghana. Authorities have maintained that investigations and enforcement actions are ongoing, while EOCO has stressed that the Baffour Awuah case must be allowed to proceed through the appropriate investigative and judicial processes.