Kojo Oppong Nkrumah reacts to Haruna Iddrisu’s comments on ‘weaponisation’ of bail

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, has responded to recent comments by Haruna Iddrisu regarding what he described as the “weaponisation” of bail by state institutions.

The former Minister of Works and Housing argued that members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had earlier raised concerns over the issue but were dismissed by some members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to Mr Oppong Nkrumah, now that senior government officials are publicly acknowledging the problem, they should move beyond commentary and ensure the practice ends.

“In the past weeks we’ve been complaining about the weaponisation of law enforcement to suppress dissenting voices. Initially, some members of the NDC denied it and claimed we were being partisan,” he wrote on X.

He further stated:

“For some reason I’m seeing clips of Ministers of state now agreeing with us. Dear Ministers, we are grateful. But don’t just agree with us. Don’t wait for constitutional amendments. Instruct the agencies doing this to stop.”

The Ofoase-Ayirebi MP suggested that public officials who only complain without taking action either lack the authority to intervene or are merely trying to create a public impression.

“You only complain when you either lack power to stop it or are scamming the people that you care, while indeed you condone it,” he added.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah’s comments follow remarks made by Haruna Iddrisu during the funeral rites of Dr Mahama Sayibu on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

The Education Minister criticised the Ghana Police Service, the courts, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), accusing them of using bail as punishment rather than as a legal safeguard.

“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,” Mr Iddrisu said.

He stressed that under Section 96(3) and (4) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), bail conditions must not be excessive or punitive. He also referenced Article 19(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

The comments come amid growing public debate over bail practices in Ghana, particularly in politically sensitive cases where accused persons have reportedly struggled to meet strict bail conditions despite being granted bail.