Accra High court has granted bail to twenty-one democracy hub protesters while denying bail to Oliver Barker-Vormawor.
This decision followed an appeal from lawyers contesting a circuit court’s ruling that remanded fifty-three protesters in police and prison custody.
The court granted bail to the first group, which included Ama Governor and eight others: Emmanuel Gyan, Emmanuel Kwabena Addo, Ziblim Yakubu, Oheneba Prempeh, Philip Owusu, Kobina Akisibik Desmond, Von Coffie, and Sadik Yakubu. Each of the nine were bail at GHC 70,000 with two sureties,must report to the police once a week and deposit their Ghana cards at the court registry.
Further, the second group including Oliver Barker-Vormawor and twelve others were given bail but denied bail to Barker-Vormawor.
Thus, the judge instructed the circuit court to initiate prosecution within seventy-two hours; otherwise, Barker-Vormawor may be eligible for bail. This decision stemmed from Barker-Vormawor’s previous bail status for treason felony charges at the time he allegedly committed offences during the protest.
In response, his lawyer, Justice Srem Sai, argued that the focus should be on whether Barker-Vormawor would stand trial, emphasising that he has participated in a treason felony trial for the past three years and is unlikely to flee from lesser charges.
Nonetheless, the judge cited Section 96(5c) of the Criminal Procedure Act (Act 30), which permits the court to deny bail if it believes the accused might commit further offences upon release.
Additionally, the court also granted bail to the other twelve protesters, setting it at GHC 20,000 with two sureties. Whereas lawyers have filed appeal applications for the thirty remaining protesters who the circuit court remanded two weeks ago.
