The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over what he describes as excessive and unreasonable bail conditions imposed on Paul Adom-Otchere, former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL).
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Assafuah, who is also a lawyer, argued that the OSP’s demands risk setting a dangerous precedent that undermines fairness and justice in Ghana’s legal system.
He warned against the abuse of prosecutorial discretion, using a biblical analogy to drive home his point.
“If we’re not careful, we’ll reach a point where someone will be asked to present Jesus Christ, Noah’s Ark, or even the dove that returned after the flood, as bail condition. That would mean we’re detaining people unnecessarily,” he said.
Describing the situation as “in bad taste and an abuse of the law,” the MP called for fairness and restraint.
Mr. Adom-Otchere, who was granted bail on Thursday after being questioned in connection with a revenue assurance audit contract, remains in custody due to his inability to meet the bail condition—which requires two landed properties registered in his name as sureties.
But Mr. Assafuah questioned the practicality and legality of such a demand.
“There are two types of bail: self-recognisance, where the individual reports periodically, and one that requires sureties or guarantees. I’ve never seen a situation where a person is asked to bail himself. Jesus Christ!” he exclaimed.
He also raised concerns about how an individual in custody is expected to provide documentation for properties as surety.
“Even if he owns the two properties, how is he expected to produce the documents while still in custody? We must tread cautiously,” he cautioned.
Gertrude Otchere
ALSO READ:
