Freddie Blay (L) and Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin (R) defended Abronye in court on Friday
The bail hearing application of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, on Friday, September 12, 2025, took an interesting turn when leading figures of the party took over his case.
According to GhanaWeb’s reporter at the Accra Circuit Court, where the case was heard, George Ayisi, leading lawyers of the NPP, including the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (NPP) for Effutu, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, and the former National Chairman of the party, Freddie Blay, joined Daniel Mantey and made arguments during the proceedings.
Afenyo-Markin and Freddie Blay argued sternly for the NPP Bono Regional Chairman to be granted bail.
Afenyo-Markin, in particular, was on his feet for over 30 minutes arguing for the NPP Bono Regional Chairman to be granted bail.
Arguing their application, the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency informed the court that, contrary to the court’s order for Abronye to be kept in lawful custody, he had been held in the custody of the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) since the remand.
He noted that their client, who faces misdemeanour charges, was being transported in a police Black Maria, suggesting that his offence was grave, an act he described as unwarranted high-handedness.
He informed the court that his client is a known politician with a fixed abode and would appear for hearings if granted bail. He pleaded with the court to grant his client bail with favourable conditions, even though the prosecution was likely to sway the court in their attempt to punish Abronye over his comments against the Inspector General of Police.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Lawal, strongly opposed the bail application, noting that the use of a Black Maria to transport Abronye is standard police practice aimed at ensuring the safety and security of suspects.
He emphasised the police’s commitment to protecting the suspect’s rights and stated that the suspect is needed to assist with investigations into videos bordering on national security.
The prosecution argued that the accused is likely to interfere with investigations if granted bail and remains a flight risk, having written to several embassies seeking asylum.
“We pray that the accused person be remanded for two weeks to allow the police to conclude their investigations and amend the charges if necessary,” the prosecution added.
Rising on a point of law, Afenyo-Markin accused the prosecution of showing bad faith, noting that they were not ready to prosecute the matter.
Also in court was former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame.
The arguments and presence of the NPP bigwigs did nothing to sway the judgment of the court, which denied him bail for a second time and remanded him for a week.
Ruling on the application, the presiding judge noted that the issue in contention is a matter of misdemeanour but emphasised that the suspect’s comments against the Inspector General of Police could threaten national security.
He stated that while the suspect has the right to freedom of speech, that freedom is not absolute. He further noted that while a person is at liberty to criticise the police, blatant insults cannot be permitted.
He emphasised the role of the courts in addressing the politics of insults. The judge, therefore, remanded Abronye into custody to reappear on September 19, 2025.
Abronye, whose first bail application was denied by the court on September 9, 2025, was arrested by the Ghana Police Service for what the Service described as “offensive conduct.”
In a statement shared on the Police Service’s official social media platforms on September 8, 2025, the Service announced that Abronye DC would be processed for court.
“The Ghana Police Service has today, 08/09/25, arrested Mr Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye, for offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace. He is currently in custody and will be put before court,” the statement read.
The arrest follows Abronye’s recent attempt to seek political asylum in eight countries, including Côte d’Ivoire and the United States.
He cited political persecution, threats to his life, and alleged abuse of state security powers by the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government as reasons for his request.
His asylum application has been cited as the reason he was denied bail by the court.
BAI/VPO
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