Private Legal Practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has criticised the government over its continued detention of the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC.

This comes after the Chairman was detained for another ten days following his denial of bail by the Accra Circuit Court over charges of misdemeanour.

During an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen yesterday, September 12, Kpebu stated that “We must let the Attorney-General and IGP Yohuno know that this is not lawful. We didn’t vote for the NDC for this type of governance, and I cannot be part of this type of government.”

Speaking in a separate interview on Citi FM’s eyewitness news, the human rights lawyer Martin Kpebu expressed his distaste for the disproportionate treatment being meted out to Abronye over an offence which is considered a basic in legal terms, citing that, as part of constitutional provisions, the offender has the right to plead for freedom.

“Definitely, I agree in respect of this particular case. I absolutely agree,” Kpebu said. “This is a misdemeanour — so that is to say, in law, it is one of the smallest offences. It is even said that if it is before the court, the accused person can go and plead”.

According to him, the case of Abronye isn’t as serious as it is being treated, urging the IGP to order the release of the Bono NPP chairman.

“This is not a serious case that he should stay in custody for one more week; we can’t allow that to happen in the country. We’re begging IGP Yohuno,” he added.

While distancing himself from the content of the statements made by Abronye, Kpebu was firm in his legal opinion.

“Let’s be very clear. I don’t support the content or the statements that he made. No. We are only analysing the law,” he clarified.

Kpebu argued that the nature of the charge does not warrant a refusal of bail. “This offence is not as big as it is being made to look. It is a small one, so generally we don’t refuse bail for such cases. It is believed that the person is not likely to run. So if he is not likely to run, you admit him to bail.”Abronye’s legal tussle

Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye, has been remanded in prison custody for another seven days until his next appearance on September 19. He made his second appearance in court ( the Accra Circuit Court) yesterday, Friday, September 12 and his first appearance in court on Tuesday, September 9.He is being held in custody for offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace.

Armed police officers stormed the residence of former NPP Youth Organiser, Moses Abor, in search of Abronye on Sunday, September 8.

Last week, Abronye made headlines after he formally wrote to eight different countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, the United States, France, Italy, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany, seeking protection for his safety in Ghana.

Defending his reason for seeking asylum, he added that “consistent, escalating political persecution, threats to my life, and systemic abuse of state security powers by the current Government of Ghana”.

During his first appearance in court, the NPP Bono Chairman’s legal team requested bail after the presiding judge scheduled his next appearance for the next three days; however, the presiding judge at the Accra Circuit Court denied their request. Consequently, Abronye was held in custody by the police until his next appearance. Ghana Police, in an official statement shared on their Twitter page, confirmed the NPP member’s arrest on Monday, September 8.

"The Ghana Police Service has today, 08/09/25, arrested Mr. Kwame Baffoe @ Abronye for Offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace", confirming he is in their custody awaiting arraignment before the Court.

Making an appearance for his first court hearing, he arrived in handcuffs, escorted by police officers from a black police van known as “Black Maria, sparking bitter concerns among members of the opposition NPP, including the party’s National Youth Organiser, Salam Mustapha.

The court denying him bail visibly did not sit well with some members of the opposition NPP, who appeared in court in solidarity with their member.

During a media engagement, he complained bitterly about how the Chairman’s case of misdemeanour was being treated like a criminal case when it is a civil case.

He said Abronye wasn’t a criminal to be transported in handcuffs and in a Black Maria, citing it as a waste of taxpayers' money and time of concerned individuals.

He warned the government against what he described as the mistreatment of NPP party members, stating that, “Power has an end, the tables will turn, and we will all have our revenge”.

Criticising the Ghana Police for bias, he announced an upcoming protest against the law enforcement agency in the coming days, which he will lead. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to embark on a demonstration slated for Friday, September 23.

The party’s National Youth Organiser, Salam Mustapha, announced this on his official Facebook platform on Friday, September 12.

“Tuesday, 23rd September, the National Youth Wing will organise a demo against the state-sponsored police harassment. From Obra Spot to police headquarters. 6 a.m. sharp!” he said.

The move, they said, is to protest what it calls state-sponsored harassment by the Ghana Police Service against its members.

Abronye’s arrest comes days after the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) held the presidential candidate and leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo, for alleged financial misappropriation and other related misconduct. On Wednesday, September 3, Kofi Akpaloo was picked up at his residence in Kumasi by EOCO officials for interrogation. Mr Akpaloo vied for the presidency in the 2024 general elections.

Before the election, Akpaloo expressed strong confidence in his chances for a decisive win, predicting victory over major contenders.

However, he obtained 5,219, which is 0.09%. Recently, EOCO has given much attention to investigating high-profile political figures and business leaders.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, is also under investigation for alleged fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.

Several other party affiliates have reportedly been arrested in separate cases.