Abronye DC bail application set for May 20 hearing

A bail application seeking the release of Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, is expected to be heard at the High Court on May 20.

The NPP General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, disclosed this in a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 18, after visiting Abronye at the Bureau of National Investigations.

Mr Kodua said he visited the detained party official with senior NPP figures, including former Trade and Industry Minister K. T. Hammond, Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed, Central Regional Chairman Dennis Percyval Quaicoe, and Christopher Arthur, the party’s 2024 parliamentary candidate for Agona West.

According to him, Abronye remains strong despite being in custody.

He said the Bono Regional Chairman was “resolute, courageous and in very high spirits” and had thanked party members across the country for their support.

Mr Kodua added that Abronye had sent greetings to supporters in the Bono Region and urged the party to remain united.

Abronye has been remanded for two weeks as investigations continue into allegations of misinformation and offensive public statements.

He was rearrested on Wednesday, May 13, weeks after he had earlier been granted bail in connection with the same matter.

Security agencies say investigations into the allegations are ongoing.

The case has drawn criticism from the Minority, which says his detention raises constitutional concerns.

Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei argued that the arrest breached Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution, which protects personal liberty.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday, May 18, she said a person could only be deprived of liberty under clearly defined legal circumstances.

She argued that Abronye’s comments amounted to criticism and should not be treated as criminal conduct.

Mrs Appiagyei also questioned the basis for keeping him in custody, claiming that no formal documentation had been produced by close of business on Friday to justify the remand.

She said the argument that Abronye might continue making public comments if granted bail was not enough reason to detain him.

“That is persecution, not prosecution,” she said.

The opposition has also warned against the use of legal provisions in a way that could indirectly revive criminal libel, which Ghana repealed more than 20 years ago.