Effutu Independent Parliamentary Candidate Granted GHC50k Bail

Louisa Buabeng, an independent candidate contesting in the Effutu parliamentary elections, and her campaign coordinator, Dauda Murtalib Monkaizil, have been granted bail by the Winneba District Court. Presided over by Her Worship Josephine Abigail Fosuaa Appiah, the bail amount was set at GHC50,000, with additional conditions requiring three sureties, one of whom must be a police officer of at least chief inspector rank within the district.

Key Points from the Court Proceedings

• The accused were absent during the hearing, and the police prosecutor admitted to being unaware of their whereabouts, despite their supposed custody under the police.
• The bail terms have been described as “outrageous” by the counsel for the accused, Jennifred Maurice Adjei, who argued that the conditions are unnecessarily harsh for a misdemeanor charge.
• Attempts by the defense to request a review of the surety requirements were dismissed by the court.

Background of the Case

Buabeng and Monkaizil were arrested by the Winneba Divisional Police Command on charges of unlawfully possessing another person’s voter ID card. They were remanded by the same court last Friday.

However, the police’s inability to present the accused persons in court has raised concerns about the handling of the case. The prosecutor’s explanation cited the absence of the investigative officer as the reason for the delay.

Jennifred Maurice Adjei criticized the bail conditions, pointing out that the alleged offense typically warrants a fine of GHC500 or up to a year in prison. He argued that the conditions were excessive and politically motivated, suggesting “unseen hands” might be influencing the court’s decisions.

Supporters of the independent candidate expressed disappointment over what they described as unjust treatment by the police, accusing authorities of attempting to undermine Buabeng’s electoral ambitions.

The controversy surrounding the case has sparked debates about fairness and transparency in the judicial process, especially during an election period.