Afenyo-Markin calls Abronye’s remand a ‘constitutional wrong’, NPP says free speech isn’t a crime, even if it’s reckless.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has described the detention and remand of the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Kwame Baffoe, as a constitutional wrong that should be condemned. Speaking at a press conference on May 17, 2026, he argued that provisions of Ghana’s bail laws under Act 30 and Act 96 were inconsistent with constitutional protections relating to personal liberty and judicial discretion, particularly concerning the granting of bail in criminal cases. Mr Afenyo-Markin maintained that although the NPP does not support irresponsible speech, public commentary that allegedly harms reputations should be addressed through civil remedies rather than criminal prosecution. Abronye DC was remanded for two weeks on May 13 as investigations continue into allegations of misinformation, offensive conduct and statements deemed likely to cause fear and panic after he was rearrested following an earlier grant of bail. The NPP has since questioned the legality and fairness of the process surrounding his detention.
