EOCO had tactical team ready to arrest Baffour Awuah – Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has rejected claims that being a Member of Parliament should shield anyone from law enforcement. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, the Abura Asebu-Kwamankese MP said his colleagues must not use their parliamentary status to prevent lawful action by security agencies. His comments follow controversy over an attempted arrest involving an MP and officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the video of the incident did not support claims that EOCO officers were attempting to kidnap the MP. Indeed, at the beginning of the video, I can say that I have never seen a law enforcement officer show so much politeness and civility towards a subject that he wants to arrest.” He said the officer involved was a legitimate law enforcement official who had been deployed to monitor the MP. “The lady was essentially doing a mea culpa and begging the MP to come with her.

She did not pose any threat whatsoever to the MP in question.” According to him, EOCO had also deployed a tactical team capable of forcibly apprehending the MP if necessary. Indeed, the lady I’m told is part of their surveillance team. So basically, they have to surveil the individual and see whether it is opportune to apprehend him or invite him.” He acknowledged that questions could be raised about the officer’s approach but said the incident should not automatically be blamed on government.

“You can say that they could have applied a bit more finesse and be a bit more strategic, and perhaps read the room there and seen that no, the environment is not conducive.” Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the tactical team eventually chose not to use force because doing so could have escalated the situation. “They decided not to because they gauged the altercation had ensued and noticed that if they went to apply force or do anything, you could escalate the situation.” He also challenged what he described as the growing perception that law enforcement agencies require presidential approval before arresting politically exposed persons. “Do they need to seek the president’s permission to arrest everybody?” For him, the same principle should apply to MPs.

An MP is beyond reproach, and that because he is an MP, and indeed he was not attending… Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has disclosed that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) had a tactical team ready to forcefully apprehend Manhyia South MP, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. According to him, the team was officially instructed to monitor the MP and determine whether it was appropriate to arrest or invite him.

“The lady is a law enforcement officer without question,” he said. Mr Kwakye Ofosu also rejected claims that the government had sought to kidnap the MP, insisting that the conduct of the officer did not support such an allegation. “At the beginning of the video, I can say that I have never seen a law enforcement officer show so much politeness and civility towards a subject that he wants to arrest.” He said the officer was “essentially doing a mea culpa and begging the MP to come with her” and “did not pose any threat whatsoever to the MP in question.” The government spokesperson disclosed that EOCO’s tactical team could have used force to apprehend the MP but stood down after assessing the situation.