Continued detention of Abronye unlawful – Kpebu to Attorney General

Martin Kpebu says Abronye’s detention is unlawful and a threat to Ghana’s justice system.

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has criticised the NDC government over the detention of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye.

He described it as unlawful and unacceptable. He argued that Abronye’s continued custody undermines justice and violates the rule of law.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on Friday, September 12, 2025, Kpebu condemned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and accused it of using unlawful means to keep Abronye in detention after he was remanded for a second week by an Accra Circuit Court.

“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,” he fumed.

According to the human rights lawyer, keeping Abronye in detention over a misdemeanour case is unlawful, stressing that the NDC government must allow the matter to proceed in court while granting him bail. “If they don’t want to forgive him, they can grant him bail as the case proceeds. When the verdict comes and it is too much, then we can talk about it,” Kpebu explained.

He further warned that Abronye’s detention without bail sets a dangerous precedent for Ghana’s democracy. “If in a misdemeanour case Abronye cannot secure bail, then it means the verdict on my Kpebu Number 2 case in 2016 is void and useless. As citizens, we must get up and resist this, or else it will lead to tyranny,” he cautioned.

Kpebu urged the police to return to court on Monday to confirm the completion of their investigations so that Abronye can be considered for bail. He also encouraged Abronye’s legal team to seek redress at the Human Rights Court if the case drags on.

“This is wrong and a sad day for our democracy. We must all rally support and speak against this because we cannot retrogress as a nation,” he added.

Abronye was first remanded on Tuesday, September 9, following his arrest a day earlier for alleged offensive conduct conducive to the breach of public peace. His lawyers, including Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, pleaded for bail during his second appearance on Friday, September 12, but the court rejected the application. Abronye is expected to reappear on September 19, 2025.