BY Issah Olegor
A fresh wave of controversy has engulfed Ghana’s political and legal landscape following the continued detention of Bono Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC.
The decision by the Accra Circuit Court to remand him for a second time on Friday, September 12, 2025, has sparked outrage from legal experts, opposition voices, and even supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, became the latest prominent voice to condemn the development.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, Kpebu argued that Abronye’s prolonged detention over a misdemeanor charge not only violates his rights but also undermines the democratic values Ghanaians voted for.
“This is Not Why We Voted for the NDC”
In his critique, Kpebu warned that keeping Abronye in custody for two consecutive weeks was unlawful and could erode public confidence in the justice system.
“We must let the Attorney-General and IGP Yohuno know that this is not lawful. We didn’t vote for the NDC for this type of governance, and I cannot be part of this type of government,” Kpebu declared.
According to him, the state should have allowed the case to proceed in court while granting the accused bail.
He stressed that denying bail in a misdemeanour case is both excessive and dangerous for the constitutional democracy.
“If they don’t want to forgive him, they can grant him bail as the case proceeds. When the verdict comes, then we can talk about sanctions,” he noted.
Background
Abronye was first arrested on Monday, September 8, 2025, after the police accused him of “offensive conduct conducive to the breach of public peace.”
He was subsequently remanded by the Accra Circuit Court on September 10, and again on September 12, raising concerns about political interference in the judicial process.
Reports indicate that Abronye has since embarked on a hunger strike while in detention, heightening fears about his health and safety.
Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has also described the government’s handling of the case as “repulsive intolerance,” accusing the administration of trampling on fundamental rights.
Calls for Legal Redress
Martin Kpebu urged the police to return to court on Monday to signal the completion of their investigations so that bail can be granted.
He further advised Abronye’s legal team to consider filing an application at the Human Rights Court should the police fail to act.
“This is wrong and a sad day for our democracy. We must all rally support and speak against this because we cannot retrogress as a nation,” he emphasized.
Growing Political Tension
The case has already triggered heated political reactions.
Former NPP spokesperson Nana Akomea described the arrest as a “disgrace to democracy,” while Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) of detaining Abronye without proper interrogation.
