Accra: The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has clarified that the severity of crimes committed by individuals or former government appointees dictates the bail conditions set for them. This explanation was given in response to an urgent query from Mr. Habib Iddrisu, a Member of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Tolon, who raised concerns on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin. The concerns pertained to what was described as 'excessive bail conditions' imposed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on certain former government officials.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Ayine emphasized that the bail conditions are in strict accordance with Ghanaian law. He pointed out that individuals who find the bail conditions excessively stringent have the legal option to approach the courts to request a reduction. The Minister highlighted that the primary purpose of the bail conditions is to ensure that the accused do not flee and remain within the jurisdiction to face trial.
Currently, several former government appointees are undergoing prosecution for alleged financial misconduct, with EOCO leading the investigation and implementation of bail conditions.