Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has criticized the Judiciary, Ghana Police Service, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over what he described as the use of bail conditions “as punishment” for suspects.
Speaking at a public lecture on justice and governance in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Iddrisu said excessively high bail sums and stringent conditions defeat the purpose of bail and violate the rights of accused persons. “Bail is not supposed to be punishment. Bail is to ensure that a suspect appears to stand trial,” the Minister said.
“When you set bail at GH₵10 million for a young graduate, or you ask for four landed properties in Accra, you are essentially remanding the person without trial.”
TARGETS JUDICIARY, POLICE, EOCO
The Tamale South MP singled out the Judiciary, Police, and EOCO, arguing that some courts grant bail terms that suspects cannot meet, while investigators sometimes oppose bail “to punish” suspects before conviction. “EOCO arrests, the Police investigate, the courts set conditions. If all three are not careful, we create a system where the process becomes the punishment. That is not justice,” he stated.
Legal practitioners have raised similar concerns in recent months, citing Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides that bail should not be excessive. The Judicial Service and EOCO had not responded to the Minister’s comments at the time of filing this report. A senior police officer who asked not to be named said bail decisions rest with the courts and that police only present facts.
Debate over bail has intensified after several high-profile cases where suspects spent months on remand because they could not meet bail terms. Civil society groups say the practice disproportionately affects the poor.
Mr. Iddrisu urged a national conversation on bail reform. “Liberty is at the heart of our democracy. We must not use the criminal justice system to destroy lives before guilt is established.” The Minister clarified he was not interfering with judicial independence but was “speaking as a citizen and lawmaker concerned about human rights.”