Baffour Awuah arrest: Is this justice or power play? – Sulemana Braimah quizzes
by Gabs · MyNewsGh.comThe Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has questioned the manner in which the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) handled its attempt to arrest Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.
Braimah said the circumstances surrounding the incident could create the impression that the state was using its power against the MP rather than simply pursuing an investigation.
He said he would be disappointed if the reasons behind the case were limited to the issues being discussed publicly about Baffour Awuah’s former legal representation of SIC Life Savings and Loans.
“I would be extremely disappointed if it turns out that the reasons for which this whole Baffour Awuah thing is happening are essentially what we are hearing,” Braimah said.
He said he expected there to be more to the matter because the public had not yet been given the full picture.
“I expect that there must be something that we all don’t know,” he added.
Braimah, however, stressed that his concerns did not mean Baffour Awuah should be shielded from investigation if there was evidence of wrongdoing.
“If there are issues of crime committed against the state in whichever way, I think people have to be held accountable,” he said.
He added that political office should not protect anyone from the law.
“It doesn’t matter whether such people are MPs or ministers or whatever it is. The law, as they say, is the law,” Braimah said.
His main concern, however, was whether the law was being applied in a manner that would inspire public confidence.
He said state institutions must ensure that their actions are seen as an impartial pursuit of justice and not an exercise in political power.
“The law must be seen to be working fairly in a way that we would all believe it is just the law that is working and not some power play that is happening,” he said.
Braimah’s comments came during a discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile about the confrontation between EOCO officials and Baffour Awuah at the High Court on September 23.
EOCO said at the time that the attempted arrest formed part of steps to secure Baffour Awuah’s attendance after two February invitations were not honoured.
Braimah said the way the arrest was attempted, particularly at the court premises while the MP was representing a client, inevitably raised questions about how the public would interpret the action.
He said that perception matters when state institutions are exercising coercive powers.
“If it turns out that all we are hearing is just all about it in terms of the case, I would be deeply disappointed,” he said.
“For me, I would then conclude that this is just some people trying to say, ‘We’ll show you where power lies.’”
Source: MyNewsGh.com
Thanks for reading from MyNewsGH as a news publishing website from Ghana. You are free to share this story via the various social media platforms and follow us on; Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram etc.