The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has likened the Economic and Organized Crime Office's (EOCO) attempted arrest of lawyer Nana Baffour Awuah inside the Accra High Court to a “raid”, warning that the independence of lawyers in Ghana is under attack.

In a statement issued by the GBA, it said the action by EOCO at the High Court  on September 23 was a clear act of intimidation that could cripple the justice delivery system.

To the Bar, the attempt to arrest the lawyer was not just about him but about silencing the entire profession.

"While no individual is above the law, any investigation or enforcement action involving a member of the legal profession especially when they are representing clients, must be conducted strictly in accordance with constitutional guarantees, applicable legal procedures, and respect for professional independence. Attempts to circumvent these safeguards create the perception of intimidation and may have a chilling effect on the legal profession as a whole," the GBA stated.

The Association also condemned what it sees to be an assault on another lawyer, Enoch Anhwere Afoakwa, by the female EOCO officer sent to apprehend lawyer Nana Baffour Awuah at the court premises.

The statement signed by the GBA’s President, Efua Ghartey and Secretary, Kwaku Gyau Baffour, argued that when lawyers are not free to defend their clients, democracy suffers.

"Lawyers play a critical role in the administration of justice and the protection of the rights of citizens. Any action that appears to interfere with their ability to discharge their professional duties risks undermining public confidence in the justice system and the rule of law," the Bar said.

The Bar recalled a pattern of attacks, citing the 2025 Wa Conference where their President, Efua Ghartey warned that "unruly acts" against lawyers may stifle pro bono services.

”Lawyers should be at liberty to defend clients of their choice without being heckled," the President warned.

It also revisited the June 2026 incident where a former Vice President of the Bar, Justice Minka Premo and his young associate, who was a nursing mother, were arrested at the BNI and detained overnight with the mother separated from her baby.

The GBA has demanded that EOCO and all state agencies respect the independence of the Bar, warning that "the independence of the legal profession is a cornerstone of every democratic society and must be protected at all times”.