Unreasonable Bail Conditions: Assafuah Slams OSP for Absurd Demands
ACCRA, GHANA — Old Tafo MP and lawyer Vincent Ekow Assafuah has delivered a scathing rebuke of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), warning that bail practices are skirting fairness. In a fiery broadcast on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, he likened the current demands placed on Paul Adom‑Otchere to asking for Jesus Christ or Noah’s Ark as bail conditions, calling it absurd and unjust.
Assafuah Decries Bail Policies That Undermine Justice
Biblical Hyperbole to Make a Point: Using an analogy that quickly went viral, Assafuah warned, “we may soon ask for Jesus Christ, Noah’s Ark, or even the dove that returned after the flood, as bail condition”, underscoring how detached current bail conditions have become from reality.
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Punitive and Impractical Sureties: The MP noted that Adom‑Otchere has been required to produce two Ghana‑registered landed properties as sureties—a demand impossible to fulfil while in custody. He called the order “in bad taste and an abuse of the law”.
No Flight Risk—So Why Such Harsh Terms? Assafuah argued that bail conditions are typically reserved for potential flight risks. But in Adom‑Otchere’s case, a public figure with daily TV appearances, it risks setting a dangerous precedent.
Case Background: High-Profile Detention Under Scrutiny
Former Ghana Airports Company Limited Board Chair Paul Adom‑Otchere was arrested by the OSP on July 31, 2025, in connection with an audit contract scandal. Though granted bail, he remains in custody due to his inability to meet the rigid surety requirements.
Assafuah pointed out the impracticality of producing the required documents from detention, urging authorities to reconsider such escalating conditions
Investigative Insight: A Precedent That Erodes Legal Confidence
Assafuah’s stylised critique raises deeper concerns about Ghana’s justice system:
Misuse of Discretion: Overly stringent bail terms risk weaponising prosecutorial power and generating fear rather than accountability.
Erosion of Presumption of Innocence: Treating non–flight-risk individuals as serious risks undermines constitutional protections.
Public Trust at Risk: When bail procedures become punitive rather than judicial, citizens lose faith in due process.
Source: My News Ghana
