In court on Monday, September 15, lawyers of the NPP Bono Regional Chairman, led by Daniel Amartey, in moving their repeat bail application, indicated that Abronye’s health was in quick decline.
He noted that circumstances had gotten worse since the last time he was brought to court and hence prayed the court to grant him bail.
The prosecution did not oppose the bail application.
The judge then granted Abronye a GHC50,000 bail with one surety without justification. The court also ordered the Bono Regional Chairman to report to the Police every Wednesday.
The case has since been adjourned to October 7.
Abronye has been charged with publication of false news and offensive conduct to the breach of peace. He has however pleaded not guilty.
The earlier decision to deny him bail attracted wide criticism from the public.
For instance, a Private legal practitioner and former Member of Parliament for Akim Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, said the law must be allowed to work to ensure fairness in the system.
“I think we should allow Abronye to go through due process. Why do you want to remand the man for a misdemeanor?
“And then somebody too is in America, even insulting the Otumfuo and the Okyehene and they gave him a VIP treatment, a walk in this space. What hypocrisy is that? It’s a pathetic hypocrisy, I should say,” he said in an interview with TV3’s Beatrice Adu.
Another lawyer, Martin Kpebu, also said the denial of bail was not a good law.
In a Facebook post, he said, “Keeping Abronye DC in custody for another week is not good law. This is you do me, I do you.”
Similarly, another private legal practitioner, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, said that if the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohunu, thinks Abronye made defamatory comments against him, he should go to court, like every citizen, not to arrest him.
Barker-Vormawor believes that the IGP is using the police to settle personal scores.
“From what I have gathered so far, the Government does not support the prosecution of Abronye, or think it to be necessary at this stage. If the IGP thinks Abronye’s comments are defamatory, he should go to court, like every citizen.
“Using the police to settle personal insults, and now creating ridiculous visual imagery as if he is some war criminal or Hannibal Lecter is causing unnecessary attention and dis-affection for the Government. End it! Someone needs to bring the IGP and his boys to order,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
In a separate post, he opposed the remand of Abronye.
Barker-Vormawor makes the point that the fact that Abronye keeps getting remanded over a “common misdemeanour,” is an affront to everybody’s rights.
The Convener of the Fix The Country Movement said “We should all be afraid by the constant cheapening of our constitutional rights to personal liberty. But yesterday they were busy cheering, when it was me. So today, you are also doing the cheering when it is them. Till the noose is around both your own necks. You, without political supporters or money. Then you will be in my inbox asking for pro bono services.
“Our Courts are the weakest link in our democracy. They enable the politics of vengeance and irresponsibility. When we see that our Courts lack the backbone or independence. Dont jubilate. Pray. Pray without ceasing! Our Democracy is a death trap! Fix it.”
