This commentary confronts a central malaise in Ghana: the selective application of the law and its corrosive impact on justice. I write as a friend of Ghana and an advocate for true justice, not as a partisan for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or New Patriotic Party (NPP)—both of which have weaponized legal processes to serve Machiavellian ends (Gyimah-Boadi, 2017; Arthur, 2015). The law, as a tool of the state, must be wielded with integrity, guided by constitutional principles—not as a blunt instrument for political retribution. When justice is politicized, today’s rulers set a dangerous precedent for tomorrow’s adversaries, perpetuating cycles of vengeance and impunity (Ayee, 2020; Ampratwum, 2008). Only the principled, even-handed application of law can safeguard Ghana’s fragile democracy.
This commentary dissects the botched September 2026 attempt to arrest Baffour Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, MP for ManhyiaSouth, by purported Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) operatives. These officers, who refused to provide proper identification or legal justification, staged a broad daylight operation that looked more like an attempted kidnapping than a lawful arrest (Daily Graphic, 2026; MyJoyOnline, 2026). The NPP predictably labeled it a “witch-hunt”—a refrain used by both major parties when convenient—casting further doubt on Ghana’s commitment to the rule of law (Gyimah-Boadi, 2017; Arthur, 2015).
The above statement is not a defense of Baffour Awuah; the courts must decide his fate. The real question is: Why the rush to arrest him immediately after he posted bail for Salomay BafohAwiti, linked to the controversial “Ghana Jollof” case? Such actions reek of power abuse—an endemic “I will show you who’s boss” mentality that plagues Ghanaian politics (Ayee, 2020; Ampratwum, 2008). EOCO’s subsequent scramble to obtain a judicial order only underscores their initial disregard for due process. Are EOCO’s legal staff truly committed to the law, or are they partisan actors wielding the sledgehammer of anti-corruption as a political weapon? This spectacle exposes deep flaws in Ghana’s justice system, where legal procedures are too often sacrificed for political theater.
The NDC, under Mahama’s leadership, has lost credibility in the fight against corruption, positioning itself as both persecutor, jury, and judge—wielding EOCO as a partisan tool to settle political scores (Gyimah-Boadi, 2017; Transparency International, 2022). This brazen disregard for due process has inadvertently turned Baffour Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah into a political martyr, fueling his public profile and transforming him into a symbol of resistance, regardless of the evidence against him (Daily Graphic, 2026; MyJoyOnline, 2026). The spectacle of his confident walk to court, surrounded by supporters and a media circus, underscores how easily the line between perpetrator and victim is blurred in Ghanaian politics—where public perception routinely trumps justice (Arthur, 2015).
Further undermining its anti-corruption rhetoric, the NDC’s invocation of nolle prosequi to halt the trial of Stephen Kwabena Opuni and the opaque return and release of Sedina Christine Attionu Tamakloe—both facing serious charges of financial mismanagement—exposes the party’s selective justice and deep-seated institutional rot (Joy News, 2024; GhanaWeb, 2024). These actions signal not commitment to reform, but calculated political maneuvering. Should power shift again, the NPP is likely to continue this cycle, weaponizing anti-corruption to target opponents (Adusei & Ofori, 2023; Ampratwum, 2008). The result is a nation trapped in a perpetual witch-hunt, where public resources are squandered on political vendettas rather than genuine reform.
As youth unemployment soars, rural migration accelerates, teacher strikes over unpaid salaries grow, and government demolitions decimate businesses, public trust in the NDC government is evaporating. Citizens watch as party loyalists enrich themselves overnight, while others are told to “wait their turn” for opportunities that never materialize (Aryeetey & Baah-Boateng, 2016; Daily Graphic, 2024). The NDC’s electoral prospects for 2028 are bleak—a reality party insiders dismiss as “treasonous” critique rather than hard truth (Joy News, 2024). As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remarked, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” No government can sustain itself by crushing its opponents and sanitizing its own corruption; eventually, the truth emerges, exposing systemic decay and fueling calls for genuine justice and accountability (Gyimah-Boadi, 2017; Transparency International, 2022). Power is not a birthright; it is a fleeting trust, and those who abuse it will be held to account.
References
Adusei, M., & Ofori, B. (2023). Political patronage and corruption in Ghana: Policy failures and elite complicity. Journal of Modern African Studies, 61(1), 99-120.
Ampratwum, E. F. (2008). The fight against corruption and its implications for development in Ghana. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 11(1), 67-83.
Arthur, J. (2015). Political corruption and public accountability in Ghana. African Journal of Public Affairs, 8(2), 34-48.
Aryeetey, E., & Baah-Boateng, W. (2016). Understanding Ghana’s growth success story and job creation challenges. Brookings Africa Growth Initiative.
Ayee, J. R. A. (2020). Political economy of rule of law in Ghana. African Affairs, 119(475), 557-577.
Daily Graphic. (2026, September 29). Botched arrest of Manhyia South MP by EOCO stirs controversy. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/botched-arrest-of-manhyia-south-mp-by-eoco-stirs-controversy.html
Daily Graphic. (2024, May 13). Public anger mounts over business demolitions and unpaid salaries. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/public-anger-business-demolitions-unpaid-salaries.html
MyJoyOnline. (2026, September 30). NPP slams EOCO over attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP. https://www.myjoyonline.com/npp-slams-eoco-over-attempted-arrest-of-manhyia-south-mp/
Joy News. (2024, April 12). Teachers’ strikes and rising discontent threaten NDC prospects. https://www.myjoyonline.com/teachers-strikes-rising-discontent-threaten-ndc-prospects/
Joy News. (2024, March 18). Nolle prosequi and the politics of selective justice. https://www.myjoyonline.com/nolle-prosequi-and-the-politics-of-selective-justice/
GhanaWeb. (2024, February 4). Sedina Tamakloe: The return, release, and political implications. https://www.ghanaweb.com
Gyimah-Boadi, E. (2017). Corruption in Ghana: Trends, causes, and consequences. Ghana Center for Democratic Development.
MyJoyOnline. (2026, September 30). NPP slams EOCO over attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP. https://www.myjoyonline.com/npp-slams-eoco-over-attempted-arrest-of-manhyia-south-mp/
Transparency International. (2022). Corruption Perceptions Index 2022: Ghana. https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2022/index/gha
