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The Accra High Court has adjourned hearing of a motion for bail for the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly referred to as Abronye to Thursday, May 21 after prosecutors prayed for a short time to file response.
Lawyers of Abronye led by Godfred Yeboah Dame were in court to request for his bail following the denial of same by the Accra Circuit Court.
The NPP Bono Regional Chairman has been charged with offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace and publication of false news.
According to the prosecution Abronye made derogatory remarks about a judge and attempted to incite the public against the court.
In court on Wednesday, May 20, an entourage of high ranking NPP officials thronged the premises in a show of solidarity and to secure a bail for the party stalwart.
Abronye was remanded into BNI custody on May 13 after the circuit court denied him bail with the judge averring that if released, he would commit the offense again.
Assistant state attorney, Grace Delali Tali, prayed for a short adjournment for the prosecution to appropriately respond to the motion.
But defense lawyers led by Godfred Yeboah Dame argued that the state had been served with the motion on May 14, hence failure to file a response was not an excuse. He pleaded with the court to move the bail application adding that Abronye’s health was endangered.
“The request for adjournment is completely out of order because the record will show that the Republic which is in custody of the accused was served with this application on 14 May 2026, six clear days before today’s proceedings. It is not in dispute that the rights and liberties of the accused person are in issue and are deposed to in the affidavit. Even his health is endangered.
We pray that having regard to the fact that the Rep was served with the application six days ago we be heard on the motion for bail and same be considered by the court,” Dame noted.
But Delali Tali explained that despite being served earlier, the prosecution had to consult the investigators to familiarise itself with the case.
“Although the representative was served on 14 May 2026, today marks three clear days and not six clear days. Although I concede that the motion is ripe for hearing the nature of the case is such that the representative has to consult the investigators to familiarise itself with the case and appropriately respond. And that is why we are praying for a short adjournment.”
But the defence counsel maintained that the nature of Abronye’s case did not require consultation with the investigators.
After hearing the arguments, presiding judge Halima El-Alawa Abdul-Basit directed the prosecution to file their response by close of day, citing balancing justice and rights of the accused person.
The case has been adjourned to Thursday May 21.
Story by Efua Nessa