Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, faces three criminal charges filed by the Office of the Attorney-General. The charges include conspiracy to commit a crime, intentionally causing financial loss to a public body, and money laundering. These allegations relate to his handling of a legal case for SIC Life Savings & Loans Company Limited.
The charges, filed at the High Court’s Specialised Jurisdiction Division in Accra on October 3, 2026, detail specific financial misconduct. The State alleges Mr. Awuah, acting as a lawyer for SIC Life, conspired with the company’s then Managing Director in 2024. This conspiracy reportedly led to the intentional dissipation of GHS 9.85 million belonging to SIC Life. A separate count alleges he intentionally caused SIC Life to suffer a financial loss of GHS 9.85 million during a business transaction. Furthermore, the third count accuses Mr. Awuah of transferring GHS 1 million to the then Managing Director of SIC Life, knowing the funds were acquired through crime.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about financial accountability within public and quasi-public institutions in Ghana. Such allegations can erode public trust in financial systems and political leadership. Ghana has seen increased scrutiny of financial transactions involving public funds and state-owned enterprises. The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) frequently investigates cases of alleged financial malfeasance, reflecting a broader effort to combat corruption and protect state assets. This incident follows other high-profile cases involving public officials and significant sums of money, underscoring the government's commitment to tackling financial irregularities.
The charge sheet outlines the State's case, stating Mr. Awuah's law firm, Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, was engaged by SIC Life in May 2020. Their task was to recover a GHS 6.3 million debt from Equity Savings and Loans Limited. The firm was to receive 15% of the principal sum as professional fees. A judgment in July 2022 increased the debt to GHS 10.86 million, later revised to GHS 14.85 million by May 2024. The State alleges Mr. Awuah was instrumental in arranging a purported sale of attached land to Eco Swiss Investment Limited, a company not incorporated at the time. SIC Life then agreed to accept only GHS 5 million in full settlement of the GHS 14.85 million debt, with Mr. Awuah's firm receiving GHS 2.2 million in fees. Investigators found no record of prior approval for this settlement arrangement.
The alleged GHS 1 million transfer forms a critical part of the money laundering charge. After receiving the GHS 2.2 million in legal fees, Mr. Awuah reportedly issued a cheque for GHS 1 million to SIC Life’s then Managing Director on November 11, 2024. This amount represented almost half of the purported legal fee paid to the lawyer. Mr. Awuah has not provided investigators with a purpose for this GHS 1 million transfer. His voluntary surrender to EOCO on October 1, 2026, followed a High Court warrant issued on September 30. He spent the night in custody before the charges were formally filed.
The case will now proceed to the High Court’s Specialised Jurisdiction Division in Accra. The court will consider any application for bail for Mr. Awuah. This trial will be closely watched by the public, financial institutions, and political observers. The outcome could set precedents for accountability among public officials and legal professionals involved in state-related financial matters. It also underscores the importance of due diligence and transparent processes in managing public funds and assets. The allegations contained in the charge sheet are yet to be proven in court, and Mr. Awuah is presumed innocent until proven guilty.