The Accra Circuit Court has been detailing why it ordered the detention of Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye, the New Patriotic Party’s Bono Regional Chairman, after refusing his application for bail on 13 May.

Baffoe appeared before Judge Joseph Yennuban Kunsong and pleaded not guilty to charges of offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace and publication of false news, contrary to Sections 207(1) and 208(1) of Ghana’s Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29).

The prosecution withdrew a charge sheet filed on 14 April, and substituted it with a new one filed on May 12, 2026. The court granted the application to amend the charges.

Counsel for Baffoe, Daniel Martey Addo and Eugene Ansah, applied for bail, citing a previous police enquiry bail of 50,000 cedis with two sureties. They argued that their client was not a flight risk, had consistently appeared in court, and that denying bail would infringe on his constitutional right to freedom of expression under Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution.

State prosecutors, led by DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye and ACP Alex Odonkor, opposed bail. They told the court that the alleged offence was committed while Baffoe was already on bail for a separate charge, and that releasing him could lead to the commission of further offences. The prosecution relied on Section 96(5)(c) and (d) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1960 (Act 30), Section 208(1) of Act 29, and Section 296(4) of Act 30.

In his ruling, Judge Kunsong said, “The court is of the view that when granted bail the accused will commit further offences. This court specifically relies on Section 96(5)(c) and (d) of Act 30 of 1960.”

The court therefore refused the bail application and ordered that Baffoe be remanded into Bureau of National Investigations custody to reappear on May 27, 2026.

The judge also directed the prosecution to conclude investigations and file disclosures within 14 days to ensure a speedy trial.