The Minister for Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has criticised what he describes as increasing abuses of power by some state institutions in the administration of bail for accused persons.
Speaking at the funeral rites of Dr Mahama Sayibu on Thursday, May 28, 2026, the senior NDC lawmaker accused the Ghana Police Service, the courts and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) of using bail conditions as punitive measures rather than legal safeguards.
“In Ghana today, we have seen excesses; excesses from the Police, excesses from the Court, excesses from EOCO denying persons bail, and using bail as punishment for accused persons. That is not law,” he stated.
Mr Iddrisu stressed that under Ghana’s legal framework, accused persons should not be arbitrarily denied bail or subjected to excessively burdensome conditions, noting that such practices contradict both constitutional and statutory provisions.
He referenced Section 96(3) and (4) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), which provides that bail conditions must be determined based on the circumstances of each case and should not be excessive or punitive.
He also cited Article 19(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence until a person is proven guilty through a fair trial.
According to him, these legal principles must be reflected in the practical administration of justice.
“Don’t deny an accused person bail or ask an accused person to pay excessively as a punishment,” he urged. “Every person is presumed innocent until after a fair trial.”
Mr Iddrisu further called for reforms within the justice system and urged institutions responsible for administering bail to exercise fairness, restraint and respect for the rights of accused persons.
“I expect that in Ghana today we must end the high-handedness and excessiveness in matters relating to bail and its denial and its charges,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing public debate over bail practices in Ghana, with legal experts and civil society organisations increasingly raising concerns about restrictive bail conditions that leave some accused persons in detention despite being granted bail.
The comments also follow similar concerns expressed by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who recently called for reforms to address what he described as abuses in remand and bail procedures.
