By Prince Ahenkorah
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has demanded nine years of financial and tax records from Sarkodie Baffour Awuah and Partners, a law firm linked to Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, as investigations into the MP’s alleged involvement in the SIC Life Savings and Loans debt settlement continue.
The firm has been given until Friday, November 6, to provide audited financial statements, tax payment records and bank statements covering the period from 2017 to 2025.
The demand, contained in a letter dated Friday, October 30, invokes Section 19 of the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804), which empowers the office to request documents relevant to its investigations.
Among the documents EOCO is seeking are the firm’s audited financial statements for each of the nine years, evidence of corporate tax, Value Added Tax (VAT), levies and withholding tax payments made to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The office has also requested details of all bank accounts operated by the firm, together with statements covering the same period.
Additionally, the law firm is expected to submit its operating permit issued by the relevant local assembly, evidence of its renewal and a list of employees, where applicable.
The request forms part of EOCO’s broader investigation into suspected criminal conspiracy, money laundering, tax-related offences and the alleged causing of financial loss to SIC Savings and Loans, among other matters.
However, none of the three criminal charges currently brought against the MP relates specifically to a tax offence.
The nine-year period under scrutiny also stretches beyond the transaction at the centre of the criminal proceedings. According to prosecutors, SIC Life engaged the law firm in May 2020, three years after the beginning of the period for which EOCO is demanding financial records.
Mr Baffour Awuah has previously been identified as a senior partner of Sarkodie Baffour Awuah and Partners, although other reports have described the firm as his former legal practice.
In September, the firm indicated that EOCO’s earlier invitations issued in February were addressed to the MP in his capacity as a senior partner.
It further disclosed that another representative of the firm had appeared before the investigative body on three occasions, March 4, March 18 and April 30.
The demand for the firm’s records comes against the backdrop of criminal proceedings instituted against the Manhyia South MP on October 3.
He is facing three charges: conspiracy to commit a crime through the intentional dissipation of public funds, intentionally causing financial loss to a public body and money laundering.
Prosecutors allege that a GH¢14.85 million judgment debt secured by SIC Life against Equity Savings and Loans was subsequently settled for an amount as low as GH¢5 million in July 2024.
Under the settlement arrangement, prosecutors claim that Eco Swiss Investment Limited, which had allegedly acquired land belonging to Equity Savings and Loans, was expected to pay the law firm GH¢2.2 million in legal fees.
The prosecution further alleges that the MP issued a cheque for GH¢1 million to the then Managing Director of SIC Life on November 11, 2024.
Mr Baffour Awuah has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.
The Accra High Court subsequently granted him bail in the sum of GH¢10 million, with two sureties, and directed him to deposit his passport. The bail decision came two days after he surrendered to EOCO on October 1.
The investigation has also extended to other individuals connected to the transaction.
In a statement issued on October 13 concerning Suame MP John Darko, who reported to EOCO and was granted enquiry bail, the investigative body revised its estimated financial loss to SIC Savings and Loans to approximately GH¢27 million.
EOCO, however, emphasised that it had not reached any conclusion on the culpability of individuals linked to the matter.
Following his release on bail, Mr Baffour Awuah expressed confidence in his innocence, insisting that no wrongdoing could be established against him and challenging prosecutors to prove their allegations in court.
His lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, has also defended the transaction, maintaining that the law firm performed legitimate legal services and that SIC Life itself was a party to the settlement agreement.
Questioning how an allegedly unfavourable commercial agreement could amount to a criminal offence, Mr Akyea asked during a radio interview on October 1:
“If you think that the bargains were bad, and you could have done a better bargain, how does that translate into criminality?”
The lawyer has also raised concerns about EOCO’s search of the firm’s offices, arguing that such an exercise could expose confidential information and legal documents belonging to other clients.
Meanwhile, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the government of politically targeting the Manhyia South MP, whom he considers one of the New Patriotic Party’s strongest voices in Parliament.