The Minority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has expressed strong condemnation over the arrest and stringent bail conditions imposed on Alhaji Abdul Hannan Wahab, the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
The Caucus described the arrest of the 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Pusiga Constituency by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as “harsh, humiliating, and politically motivated.”
According to the Minority, the circumstances surrounding Alhaji Wahab’s arrest raise serious questions about the impartiality and professionalism of EOCO.
“On Wednesday, 25th June 2025, EOCO conducted a coordinated arrest operation in both Accra and Tamale, picking up Mr Wahab and his wife as though they were fugitives.
“They are being investigated for alleged tax evasion, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the State. These are still allegations, and no charges have been proven.”
Hon Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minority Leader
What the Minority finds even more alarming is the severity of the bail terms imposed by EOCO following the arrest. Alhaji Wahab was granted bail in the amount of GHS 50 million with two sureties—both required to justify their worth by providing assets equal to the full bail amount.
According to the Minority, Mr Wahab’s wife, facing similar conditions, was granted GHS 30 million bail, also with two sureties, one of whom must be justified.
“These conditions, by all standards, are excessive. Bail is not supposed to be a punishment or a pre-conviction sentence. It is a legal instrument meant to ensure an accused person’s availability for trial—not to punish or intimidate.”
Hon Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minority Leader
Constitutional Propriety
Citing Section 96 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), and the Supreme Court’s ruling in Kpebu No. 2 v Attorney-General, the Minority emphasized that bail conditions must be reasonable and must reflect the accused person’s financial capacity as well as the gravity of the alleged offence.
According to them, the current terms amount to a form of financial persecution. The press release, signed by Deputy Minority Leader Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, accused the EOCO under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of being used as a tool for political retaliation.
“We believe this is not about justice; it is political persecution. It is part of a broader pattern under the current NDC administration to use state institutions to intimidate perceived political opponents.”
Hon Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minority Leader
They warned that such actions erode public trust in Ghana’s democratic institutions and send a troubling message that political transitions come with vendettas, not governance.
The Caucus called on EOCO’s Acting Executive Director, Mr. Raymond Archer, to act with integrity and independence in handling the matter.
“He must remember that how he handles this will define his legacy. Posterity is watching. Ghana is bigger than any political party, and the abuse of institutional power will not be forgotten. You may control the present, but history will judge your conduct”.
Hon Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minority Leader
Accountability over Scoring Political Points
While the Minority was careful to clarify that they are not against accountability or lawful investigation, they criticised what they described as the misuse of state power to “score political points.”
“If anyone is suspected of wrongdoing, the law must take its course. But what we are against is the misuse of investigative powers to score political points. That is not democracy. That is persecution.”
Hon Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minority Leader
The statement urged civil society organisations, the media, religious leaders, and the general public to resist what they see as the creeping politicisation of state institutions.
The caucus insisted that when institutions are weaponised to settle political scores, it damages the foundations of the country’s democracy, asserting that what was wrong in times past remains wrong in recent times, regardless of who is in government.
They demanded an immediate review of the bail conditions, insisting that Mr. Wahab and his wife be released under terms that are both fair and legally justifiable.
“The bail must be reasonable, fair, and consistent with the law—not an indirect punishment. Ghana must rise above this politics of revenge and retaliation. No public servant should be punished simply for serving under a different administration.
“Let us protect the integrity of our state institutions and free them from political abuse. Enough of the political harassment, persecution and intimidation!”
Hon Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minority Leader
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