High Court grants Abronye DC GH¢100K bail

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Abronye DC

The NPP Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, has been granted bail by the Accra High Court after he was earlier remanded into custody.

Abronye’s lawyers, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who were led by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, moved a motion for bail pending trial.

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Counsel for the applicant submitted, “We move in terms of the motion paper and pray that the applicant be granted bail pending trial.”

Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, who represented the prosecution, indicated that the Republic was not opposed to the application.

The High Court subsequently granted Abronye bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties.

Part of his bail conditions is to report to the Police CID once every fortnight, surrender all travel documents, and refrain from travelling outside the jurisdiction without permission.

The news follows, Manasseh Azure Awuni, an award-winning investigative journalist, has penned a letter calling out President John Dramani Mahama over the constant arrest of opposing NPP members for publishing false news.

According to Manasseh Azure Awuni, when Mahama became president again, he expected nothing less, but he had seen Mahama change in that aspect as if Ghana had returned to the era of military governments.

Manasseh disclosed that the constant arrest of opposing NPP members is a blot on the Mahama presidency.

The award-winning investigative journalist noted that even though the president might not have a hand in the arrests, he must take action as they are affecting his reputation.

Part of his write-up read, “When you became president again, I expected nothing less because I hadn’t seen you change in that aspect of your character. That is why I feel so ashamed about what is happening now. It is as if we are in a military regime. Ghanaians, especially members of the opposition NPP, are constantly harassed under the widely abused law of publishing false news.

“Aside from Abronye, others have spent weeks in custody for no crime other than making harmless comments. Someone was arrested and detained for posting about power outages. Mr President, this is a blot on your presidency, a severe dent in your high reputation as a friend of the media and a guardian of free expression,” he said.

He added, “This is not the John Mahama I know, the Mahama whose high level of tolerance I could vouch for without batting an eyelid.”

His post added, “Why have I left the police and the judiciary to focus on you? An elder who sits at home and watches children eat the forbidden snake will not be left out when a roll call of the snake’s eaters is taken. So said the sages of old. And it remains true to this day.

“You appointed the IGP. You appointed the Director of the BNI. The political officeholders whose complaints have led to the arrest and detention of citizens are your appointees.

Calling your appointees and security agencies to order is not an interference in their lawful duty. It is safeguarding the integrity of our democracy, protecting the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of the people”, he added.

He added, “There’s a reason members of the governing party are not the target. The security agencies and some judges have resorted to these shameful actions because they are too eager to please the political authority headed by you. As we experienced in the past, members of the incumbent party do worse and get away with it.

Mr President, you mustn’t sit down and watch. It is your presidency. It is your legacy. Defend it. Don’t put those of us who trust in your tolerance to shame.

Free speech is not a crime, even if it is laced with stupidity, as is the case in many of these instances. The law against publishing false information that causes fear and panic is being abused. It is being used to settle political scores, and the head of state must be concerned”.

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