By Daniel Bampoe
The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, has finally regained his freedom after spending a week in remand custody.
An Accra Circuit Court on Monday granted him bail to the tune of GHS 50,000 with no surety, ending a controversial episode that has sparked heated debates about judicial independence, political bias, and selective justice in Ghana.
Lawyers Celebrate Bail Victory
Abronye’s legal team, led by Lawyer Martey Addo of Nkrumah & Associates, described the bail as a victory for the rule of law.
Speaking to journalists outside the court, Addo explained that his team was dissatisfied with the initial ruling that denied Abronye bail.
“We felt strongly that the decision made last week was not proper in law. The same law, however, gave us an opportunity to repeat the application and correct such errors. We have argued and we are glad that our prayer has been heard,” Addo said.
The Controversial Remand
Abronye’s arrest on September 8, 2025, and subsequent remand was one of the most contentious judicial decisions in recent memory.
He had been charged with “offensive conduct conducive to the breach of public peace” and “publication of false news” following comments he allegedly made about the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
Despite the charges being classified as misdemeanours, Judge Samuel Bright Acquah ordered a one-week remand.
His reasoning provoked public outrage, particularly after citing George Orwell’s Animal Farm—“All men are equal, but some are more equal than others”—to justify why Abronye’s remarks should not be treated like an ordinary misdemeanour.
Critics accused the judge of injecting extraneous political opinion into his ruling, while others noted that his decision lacked solid legal foundation.
Minority Leader Denounces Ruling
Among the fiercest critics was Minority Leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who also served as Abronye’s lead counsel.
Addressing students at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), he described the ruling as a dangerous precedent.
“The judge himself admitted the charges were misdemeanours, offences that ordinarily attract fines. But then he went further to say because the words were directed at the IGP, the accused could not be treated ordinarily.
He even said, ‘All men are equal, but some are more equal than others.’ If we don’t challenge such reasoning, where is our democracy headed?” Afenyo-Markin warned.
Government Spokesperson Expresses Shock
Government Spokesperson Hamza Suhuyini, a lawyer by training, was equally astonished at the decision.
“The trial court’s ruling defies every logic and every legal principle that I know. As a government spokesperson, I was embarrassed when I read the judgment. I tried to find justification behind such reasoning, but I simply couldn’t,” Suhuyini said.
He added that the ruling gave the impression of self-serving bias by the judge, who is reportedly being considered for promotion to the High Court.
Legal Community Pushes Back
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu also criticized the detention.
Speaking on Asempa FM, he said: “This is not lawful. If they don’t want to forgive him, they can grant him bail and let the case proceed. Keeping him in custody for two weeks is not lawful and undermines our democracy.”
