NDC will have to bring ‘Jesus Christ’ as bail condition under next NPP gov’t – Sam Pyne

Former Ashanti Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sam Pyne, has expressed concern over what he describes as excessive bail conditions in recent corruption-related cases.

He joked that under the next NPP government, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) might need to bring “Jesus Christ himself” as a bail condition.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen on Tuesday, Mr. Pyne highlighted the GH¢800 million bail imposed on former National Service Authority boss, Osei Assibey Antwi, which also required six sureties. He described the conditions as punitive and unrealistic, questioning how such measures serve justice.

“Imagine my own brother Osei Assibey — GH¢800 million bail and six sureties to be justified. That is a lot. We may laugh about it, but it is no joke,” he lamented.

Mr. Pyne argued that while accountability is essential, bail conditions should be practical and not designed to punish. He emphasized that there are more effective ways to ensure suspects appear in court, including monitoring passports and biometric systems.

“I believe bail conditions shouldn’t be punitive because we can even take people’s passports. There’s no way someone can travel with a passport or even apply for a new one without their biometric data showing up,” he explained.

In a satirical tone, Pyne suggested that if the trend continues, the next NPP government might launch a “One District, One EOCO Office” initiative to match the scale of prosecutions, ensuring every district is covered.

“With what is happening now, maybe when NPP comes into power, we’ll build EOCO offices in every district, office by office, department by department,” he quipped.

He further urged authorities to exercise fairness and moderation in handling suspects, warning that excessively harsh bail terms could erode public confidence in the legal system. Pyne stressed that while corruption must be tackled, the justice system must remain credible and balanced to avoid perceptions of bias or political persecution.

“Authorities should be measured and fair in everything they do. Justice must be served, but it must also be seen to be fair,” he added.