By Issah Olegor
Fresh controversy has erupted around the detention of Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye DC following allegations that the Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine, deliberately frustrated efforts by the outspoken opposition figure to secure bail.
The latest developments have intensified accusations by the NPP that state institutions are being weaponized to suppress dissent and intimidate opposition voices under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.
Abronye DC was arrested and arraigned before Circuit Court 9 in Accra after allegedly publishing a social media video attacking a Circuit Court judge and questioning the judge’s impartiality in handling politically sensitive cases.
The prosecution subsequently charged him with publication of false news and offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace under Sections 208 and 207 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The case has since become one of the most politically charged legal battles in recent months, drawing fierce criticism from opposition leaders, including Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who argue that the prosecution represents a dangerous attack on free speech and political opposition.
According to information released by lawyers and party officials, Abronye’s bail application was originally assigned to Criminal Court 2 after being filed on May 14, 2026.
However, the opposition alleges that the Registrar unexpectedly withdrew the docket from Criminal Court 2 on Friday, May 15, and reassigned it under circumstances they describe as suspicious.
Lawyers for Abronye reportedly arrived at court expecting the hearing to take place before Criminal Court 2 after Court Docket Session Officers initially confirmed the venue.
However, they were later redirected to General Jurisdiction 2, where the matter was eventually heard.
The NPP claims the sudden reassignment disrupted proceedings and delayed consideration of the bail application.
When the case was called, the Attorney-General’s office reportedly requested additional time to respond to the bail application despite the state having been formally served six days earlier.
According to the defence team, the prosecution’s request effectively prevented Abronye’s lawyers from moving the bail application forward, forcing another adjournment and extending his detention in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
Party officials and supporters have described the move as a deliberate legal strategy designed to prolong Abronye’s incarceration.
The controversy deepened further after reports emerged that Abronye himself was never physically brought before the court during the proceedings, raising fresh concerns among supporters and party officials about his health and general condition while in detention.
“This is unjust and unfair,” party communicators declared, accusing the Attorney-General and state prosecutors of intentionally obstructing the judicial process to keep Abronye behind bars.
The uproar comes just days after the official ruling by Circuit Court 9 on Abronye’s earlier bail application was finally released six days after the court proceedings.
According to the ruling, the court denied bail because it believed Abronye was likely to commit “further offences” if released.
“The Court is of the view that when granted bail the accused will commit further offences,” the ruling reportedly stated before ordering that Abronye be remanded into BNI custody.
The decision immediately sparked outrage within the NPP and sections of the legal fraternity, with critics arguing that denying a citizen bail on grounds that he may continue speaking or expressing political opinions violates constitutional guarantees of liberty and free expression.
The controversy has also reignited debate over judicial independence and the increasing use of criminal provisions relating to false publication and offensive conduct against opposition activists and political commentators.
NPP leaders insist the Abronye matter is part of a broader pattern involving the arrest and prosecution of opposition communicators and activists since the NDC returned to power in January 2025.
Cases frequently cited by the opposition include the arrests of David Essandoh over social media commentary about dumsor, Abubakar Yakubu aka Baba Amando over political remarks, and Alfred Ababio Kumi aka Adenta Kum iin connection with comments related to the Chief Justice removal proceedings.
The NPP argues that although Ghana repealed its criminal libel laws in 2001 under former President John Agyekum Kufuor, the current government is allegedly attempting to resurrect those same restrictions indirectly through the use of Sections 207 and 208 of Act 29.
Meanwhile, supporters of the government maintain that the arrests and prosecutions are lawful actions based on alleged breaches of Ghana’s criminal laws and not politically motivated persecution.
