Lead counsel for NPP’s Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, has called for a thorough review of Ghana’s bail procedures, describing them as unnecessarily burdensome, costly, and a violation of the right to freedom.
Lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi argued that bail conditions, though intended to ensure accountability, have become punitive in practice.
“When someone has not been found guilty of any offence, they are entitled to their freedom,” he noted in an interview on Ghana Tonight on October 9.
“But the delays that come with verification from the Lands Commission and property evaluations often mean that an accused person spends extra days in custody. That defeats the purpose of bail.”
Appiah-Kubi also lamented the high costs associated with fulfilling bail requirements, particularly the “justification of property,” which demands that accused persons pay a percentage of the property’s value before release.
“In a case where bail is set at GHC 20 million, the accused must pay not less than GH₵200,000 to justify the property. That is neither fair nor lawful. Bail is not supposed to impose any penalties,” he stressed.
He further warned that the current system not only delays justice but also punishes individuals financially.
“The process of securing verification and valuation makes it expensive and laborious,” he said.
“If the court has pronounced a person free, the system should not make that freedom conditional on bureaucracy and cost.”
Source:Lovinghananews.com
