The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has described the continued remand of the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe (Abronye DC), as a breach of constitutional protections, arguing that the development raises serious concerns about free expression and due process.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, May 17, 2026, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the legal processes surrounding the detention of the outspoken politician reflect inconsistencies within Ghana’s bail regime and broader constitutional safeguards.
He questioned aspects of the country’s criminal procedure laws, arguing that they grant courts discretion in bail applications but are applied in ways that may restrict liberty unnecessarily.
“The general tenure of Act 30, as amended, is one such legislation that is inconsistent with the constitution. The general tenor of Act 96, which deals with the grant of bail gives very clear indication that the court has discretion to grant bail to persons appearing before it in criminal cases upon conditions stated therein. The abstention on granting of bail in section 97 is therefore odd, and an unnecessary interference with the court,” he said.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin further insisted that the remand of Abronye DC over statements made in the public space constitutes a constitutional violation.
“What has been done to Abronye DC is a profound constitutional wrong, and must be condemned without equivocation, without delay. The arrest itself, the prosecution and remand of a citizen for words spoken in the public domain is not justice, it is prosecution.”
He stressed that while the NPP does not support reckless or irresponsible speech, Ghana’s legal framework already provides civil remedies for reputational harm, rather than criminal prosecution for public commentary.
“The party does not condone irresponsible speech. We never did, and we never will. But public discourse carries responsibility and we believe deeply in that. Where speech damages a person’s reputation, Ghanaian law provides a civil remedy for it. It has been designed to achieve one aim, which is to allow the person injured to seek relief,” he said.
Kwame Baffoe (Abronye DC) was remanded for two weeks on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, as part of ongoing investigations into alleged misinformation and offensive public statements.
He was initially arrested on Monday, April 13, over allegations including offensive conduct, false publication, and statements considered likely to incite fear and panic. Although he was later granted bail during earlier stages of the investigation, he was subsequently re-arrested as authorities intensified their probe.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has since expressed concern over the development, arguing that the handling of the case raises important constitutional and procedural questions.
