Member of Parliament for Tamale South and the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has strongly criticised what he described as the abuse of bail conditions and excessive actions by some state institutions, including the Police, the courts, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Speaking on issues relating to justice delivery in Ghana, Haruna Iddrisu said the growing practice of denying accused persons bail or imposing harsh bail conditions amounts to punishment before trial, which goes against the principles of justice.
“In Ghana today, we have seen excesses; excesses from the Police, excesses from the Courts, excesses from EOCO denying persons bail and using bail as punishment for accused persons. That is not law!” he stated.
According to the former Minority Leader, Ghana’s laws and the Constitution are clear that accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He argued that bail should not be used as a tool to punish individuals who have not yet been convicted by a court of law.
His comments come at a time when concerns continue to grow over the treatment of suspects and former government officials under investigation.
Several legal experts and civil society groups have also raised concerns about strict bail conditions that many ordinary citizens cannot afford to meet.
The lawmaker stressed that excessive bail conditions and prolonged detention undermine public confidence in the justice system.
He called for fairness, professionalism, and respect for human rights in the work of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary.
Recent public debate on remand and bail conditions has intensified after Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak also raised concerns in Parliament about the increasing use of remand, which he said is contributing to congestion in prisons across the country.
Haruna Iddrisu further urged authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is applied equally to all citizens, regardless of their political or social background.
Im leaveing a comment