Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has described the remand of Bono Regional NPP Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, as a “profound constitutional wrong” that must be condemned.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, May 17, 2026, Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that the politician’s detention raises serious concerns about Ghana’s bail laws and the limits of free expression.
“The general tenor of Act 96, which deals with the grant of bail, gives very clear indication that the court has discretion to grant bail to persons appearing before it in criminal cases,” he said. He added that the restriction on granting bail under certain provisions is inconsistent with the Constitution.
Afenyo-Markin further stated that prosecuting Abronye DC for words spoken in the public domain amounts to persecution rather than prosecution. He noted that while the NPP does not condone irresponsible speech, civil remedies already exist under Ghanaian law for any reputational damage caused by public statements.
“The arrest itself, the prosecution and remand of a citizen for words spoken in the public domain is not justice, it is persecution,” he emphasised.
Abronye DC was remanded into custody for two weeks on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, as part of investigations into alleged misinformation, offensive conduct, false publication, and statements likely to cause fear and panic.
He was first arrested on April 13, 2026, granted bail during investigations, and later rearrested as authorities intensified their probe.
The New Patriotic Party has expressed strong concerns over the development, describing the process as raising fundamental constitutional questions.