Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, has criticised what he describes as growing abuses in Ghana’s bail system by some state institutions.
Speaking during the funeral rites of Dr Mahama Sayibu on Thursday, May 28, 2026, the senior National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmaker accused the Ghana Police Service, the courts, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) of turning bail into a punitive tool rather than a legal protection for accused persons.
“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.
Mr. Iddrisu argued that Ghana’s legal framework clearly outlines how bail should be administered and warned against arbitrary denials and excessively burdensome bail conditions.
Referencing Sections 96(3) and (4) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), he stressed that bail conditions must remain reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances of each case.
He also cited Article 19(2)(c) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence until a person is proven guilty after a fair trial.
“Don’t deny an accused person bail or ask an accused person to pay excessively as a punishment,” he urged. “Every person is presumed innocent until after a fair trial.”
The Education Minister further called for reforms within Ghana’s justice system and appealed to institutions responsible for law enforcement and prosecution to exercise fairness and restraint in bail administration.
“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 added.
His comments come amid growing public debate over restrictive bail conditions and prolonged remand periods in Ghana, with several legal practitioners and civil society organisations raising concerns about fairness and access to justice.
The remarks also follow recent calls by Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak for reforms to Ghana’s bail and remand system.
