The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has raised concerns over what he describes as increasing abuses of power by some state institutions in the handling of bail conditions for accused persons.
He expressed displeasure at the practice of turning bail conditions into a form of punishment rather than a legal safeguard.
The MP accused the Ghana Police Service, the courts, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in his criticism.
“In Ghana today, we have seen excesses; excesses from the Police, excesses from the Court, excesses from EOCO denying persons bail, and using bail as punishment for accused persons. That is not law,” he stated, speaking at the funeral rites of Dr. Mahama Sayibu on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Emphasising the legal framework on bail conditions, he cited Section 96(3) and (4) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), which stipulates that bail conditions must be reasonable and based on the circumstances of each case, rather than used as punitive measures.
Haruna Iddrisu, who also serves as Minister of Education, referenced Article 19(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence until proven guilty after a fair trial.
“Don’t deny an accused person bail or ask an accused person to pay excessively as a punishment. Every person is presumed innocent until after a fair trial. I expect that in Ghana today we must end the high-handedness and excessiveness in matters relating to bail, its denial, and its conditions,” he noted.
The Minister called for reforms within the justice system and urged fairness and restraint in administering justice.
Haruna Iddrisu becomes the latest government appointee to criticise the development, following similar calls for reform by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed.
