BY Daniel Bampoe
The Accra Circuit Court has remanded the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, into custody for one week, after ruling that his comments against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) could undermine national security.
The outspoken politician was arraigned on Friday, September 12, on two charges of offensive conduct conducive to the breach of public peace and publication of false news.
Prosecutors argued that Abronye’s public utterances in recent weeks had crossed the line of free expression and amounted to incitement, which required judicial intervention.
Court’s Reasoning
In his ruling, Samuel Bright Acquah emphasized that while the charges were technically misdemeanors, the case could not be treated as an ordinary matter because the comments were directed at the IGP, the head of the police service and a central figure in national security.
“The words which came from the accused person are likely to put the security of the nation into disrepute,” the judge stated.
He added that freedom of expression, though guaranteed under the Constitution, comes with restrictions, warning that Ghana’s political space was increasingly being polluted with insults.
Citing past precedents, the judge recalled cases such as Republic v. Raphael Okai Ankrah (2023), where an NDC sympathizer was remanded for insulting then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and Republic v. Emmanuel Kwakye, a journalist from Wontumi TV, who was also remanded earlier this year for similar conduct.
“The court has been consistent under two different regimes, and I do not see why it should deviate from that consistency,” the judge explained.
The court relied on Section 96 (5) (a) and (c) of Act 30, which allows a judge to refuse bail if the accused is unlikely to appear in court or may commit a similar offense while on bail.
Arrest and Investigations
Abronye was arrested on September 8, after a police statement confirmed he was being investigated over offensive remarks made at a recent public event.
His detention followed a broader investigation in which officers also searched the home of former NPP Regional Youth Organiser, Moses Abor, in Accra.
Police sources said the search was connected to Abronye’s alleged activities, though no details were disclosed.
A Controversial Political Figure
Kwame Baffoe is no stranger to controversy. Over the years, he has built a reputation as one of the most fiery voices in Ghanaian politics, often attacking both rivals and members of his own party.
His critics accuse him of engaging in reckless rhetoric, while his supporters see him as a fearless truth-teller.
Earlier this month, Abronye made headlines after it emerged that he had applied for asylum in eight countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Côte d’Ivoire, claiming political persecution and threats to his life.
The move sparked speculation about growing tensions between him and the political establishment.
Political Reactions
The court’s ruling has already triggered sharp reactions within the NPP. Some party elders in the Bono Region described the decision as an attempt to silence a dissenting voice.
They argue that while Abronye’s language may be provocative, remanding him sets a dangerous precedent for political discourse.
Civil society groups have also weighed in, with some warning that the judiciary’s heavy-handed approach to cases of “political insults” risks stifling free expression.
Others, however, have welcomed the ruling as a necessary step to curb inflammatory speech that could destabilize the country ahead of the 2028 elections.
