Circuit Court Judge, His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, according to reports, will be retiring from the bench today, 16th September 2025.
His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, ruling on the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, has been heavily criticised after he denied the accused bail for a second time.
According to reports, the judge was one of about 50 people who were set to be appointed by President John Dramani Mahama to the High Court.
The Judicial Council, on August 20, 2025, after 1:20 p.m., shortlisted him for the position of High Court Judge to be sworn in by the president.
Bright Acquah was born on September 16, 1965, and was called to the Bar on October 1, 2010.
The Law platform added, “It’s thus to be seen whether despite His Honour’s date for retirement being tomorrow, the 16th day of September, 2025, the President shall appoint and swear in H/H Acquah, who has already been vetted and shortlisted by the Judicial Council for appointment unto the High Court Bench”.
Meanwhile, the Circuit Court Judge Bright Acquah had earlier explained that while the charges were misdemeanours, the remarks attributed to Abronye had national security and public order implications.
Judge Bright Acquah explained, “It is always said that all persons are equal, but in practice, it is not so. Courtesy George Orwell in his book Animal Farm, one of the commandments is that all men are equal, but some are more equal than others. Translated into this case, all men are equal, but some are more equal than others”.
According to the Judge, freedom of expression in Ghana must be exercised responsibly, warning that if unchecked, insults could pollute the society and undermine national security.
Judge Bright Acquah further defended his ruling by pointing to consistency in past cases under former President Akufo-Addo and President John Mahama.
He explained, “One of the codes of ethics for judges is that their decisions should be consistent. I have a case before me, The Republic v. Raphael Okai Ankrah, who appeared on May 16, 2023. He was an NDC sympathiser who openly insulted then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and was given a two-week remand.
Just about two or three weeks ago, another matter came before me, The Republic v. Emmanuel Kwakye, a journalist from Wontumi TV, and he was also remanded for two weeks. So, under two different regimes, the court has been consistent, and the court does not see why it should deviate from that consistency”.
The judge in the Abronye case argued that while criticism of policies is acceptable, direct insults against individuals in authority are not.
He cited Section 96(5)(a) and (c) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, asserting that bail could be refused if there is a likelihood of the accused repeating the offence or failing to appear in court.
Meanwhile, Social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has said Circuit Court Judge Bright Acquah, on the Abronye DC case, is not fit to remain on the bench.
Vormawor highlighted that after reading the reasoning behind the Circuit Court Judge’s continued detention of Abronye, he sincerely believes he is not fit to remain on the bench as a judge.
The private legal practitioner is quoted by GHOne TV to have said, “After reading the reasoning of the Circuit Court Judge[Bright Acquah] on Abronye’s case, I sincerely and honestly believe he is not fit to remain on the bench”.
Additionally, Abronye DC has been released from the Ghana Police custody after meeting his bail conditions.
Abronye was granted bail of the sum of GH¢50,000 with one surety, without justification.
In the viral video shared on social media, Abronye was captured with a smile, with some cheers from supporters of the NPP.
Abronye then told his supporters they were going to meet to celebrate.
He then proceeded into the vehicle, adding that he was going to meet his supporters..
Abronye was arrested on Monday, September 8, by the Ghana Police Service, based on what the police described as “offensive conduct conducive to the breach of public peace.”
The Accra Circuit Court had also remanded Abronye into police custody for one week.
Before his arrest, he had sought political asylum and security protection over threats on his life by government operatives and IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno and his boys.
Abronye, in a detailed letter, September 5, 2025, appealed to the embassies and high commissions of Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Côte d’Ivoire, Spain, France and Italy for urgent protection.