By Issah Olegor
The National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has criticized what he describes as the increasing use of “punitive bail conditions” by the courts, warning that such actions threaten the integrity and impartiality of the judicial system.
In a strongly-worded statement, Salam Mustapha expressed deep concern over the bail conditions imposed on some individuals currently facing prosecution, notably the GHC800 million bail slapped on Osei Assibey Antwi, a former public official.
According to him, the amount is “not just onerous but, ab initio, a refusal to grant bail,” arguing that the constitution clearly stipulates that bail should not serve as a form of punishment.
He compared this to the relatively lower bail amounts granted to other accused persons, including Hanan Aludiba Abdul Wahab and his wife—who were granted a combined GHC 150 million bail—and former National Service Scheme Deputy Director, Gifty Oware-Mensah, who was granted GHC 10 million bail.
“This is shocking and sets a new paradigm in our judicial system,” Mustapha noted, suggesting that the trend indicates selective justice and political bias.
Salam Mustapha recalled a recent instance where a circuit court judge cited “Animal Farm” and Uganda’s brutal dictator, Idi Amin, while denying bail in a case that sparked widespread public outrage.
Despite the controversy, the said judge was later promoted to the High Court—a decision Mustapha says reflects “a judiciary that panders to the whims and caprices of the executive.”
Highlighting what he believes to be political double standards, the NPP Youth Organizer referenced the recent case involving an National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament who allegedly led thugs to attack a National Anti-Illegal Mining Operation (NAIMOS) team.
The MP, according to him, was granted a GHC 150,000 bail—a stark contrast to the hundreds of millions imposed on NPP-affiliated individuals facing non-violent allegations.
“If it were an NPP person, the bail conditions would have been astronomical,” he said, lamenting that “the selective justice is just too obvious and now extremely worrying.”
Salam Mustapha further tied the issue to what he described as “a deliberate orchestration by the president” to remove the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Torkornoo—a move he believes has deeply eroded public confidence in the judiciary.
“This has essentially buried six feet the judicial system of Ghana,” he wrote, adding that the removal of the Chief Justice marked “a dangerous turning point” in the nation’s democratic journey.
He emphasized that the judiciary remains the last bastion of Ghana’s democracy and must not allow itself to be influenced by partisan interests.
“The citizenry should never lose trust in the judiciary, and we pray to the consciences of our Lords and Ladies to remain the firm bastion of justice they have always been,” he appealed.
Despite his criticisms, the NPP Youth Organizer reaffirmed his party’s commitment to accountability and the rule of law, insisting that the NPP does not condone corruption.
However, he maintained that justice must be applied fairly and in accordance with due process.
“We support every lawful action to prosecute people who falter—but let justice be done,” he concluded.
