The High Court in Accra has granted an application by Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, to retrieve his passport from the court registry after modifying one of the bail conditions imposed on him in his ongoing criminal trial involving allegations of financial loss to the state and money laundering.
The decision was delivered by the Commercial Court 5 Division on Thursday, November 12, 2026, following an application by the legislator’s lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, who urged the court to reconsider the requirement that his client’s passport remain in its custody.
Mr Atta Akyea argued that the MP had demonstrated no intention of absconding from the jurisdiction and should therefore be permitted to recover his travel document.
The defence counsel also drew the court’s attention to the constitutional responsibilities attached to parliamentary membership, arguing that retaining the passport could complicate the legislator’s ability to discharge his duties, particularly where official parliamentary engagements require him to travel.
He specifically invoked Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which provides for the vacation of a parliamentary seat where a legislator is absent from 15 sittings of Parliament during a session without the Speaker’s written permission and cannot provide a reasonable explanation for the absence to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee.
The provision formed an important part of the defence’s argument that the MP should not be subjected to restrictions that could unnecessarily interfere with his parliamentary responsibilities.
Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, who represented the prosecution, did not oppose the application, clearing the way for the court to consider the requested modification without a contest from the state.
Presiding judge Justice Charity Akosua Asem subsequently approved the request and removed the condition requiring the MP’s passport to remain in the custody of the court registry.
The ruling, however, does not terminate the criminal proceedings or discharge the legislator from his existing bail obligations. He remains bound by the other conditions imposed by the court while the case continues.
Mr Awuah is standing trial over allegations connected to his handling of a legal matter involving SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited. The prosecution has brought charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically the intentional dissipation of public funds, intentionally causing financial loss to a public body and money laundering.
The case forms part of an investigation into transactions and legal arrangements surrounding the financial affairs of the company, with the prosecution seeking to establish the alleged criminal conduct attributed to the legislator.
The MP voluntarily surrendered himself to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on October 1, 2026, following a warrant issued by the High Court on September 30, 2026.
His decision to surrender came after the court issued the warrant in connection with the proceedings, leading to his subsequent appearance before the relevant authorities.
Thursday’s decision represents a modification of the conditions governing his release rather than a determination of the substantive criminal allegations against him.
With the passport restriction now lifted, Mr Awuah is permitted to retrieve his travel document, although he remains subject to the outstanding bail requirements and must continue to answer to the charges before the court.
The trial is expected to resume as the prosecution and defence proceed with the legal processes necessary to determine the allegations.
