Bail Being Weaponised to Suppress Suspects, EOCO Under Scrutiny – Alhassan Sulemana Tampul

Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, NPP Member of Parliament for Gushegu, has expressed concern over what he describes as the “weaponisation” of bail by state investigative agencies, particularly the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, November 22, Tampuli argued that bail, intended to protect suspects’ rights, is increasingly being used as a tool of oppression, with some suspects facing unusually harsh conditions.

“This practice seems to be a way of oppressing suspects or persons of interest through excessive bail terms,” he said, noting that the situation marks a sharp departure from previous years.

While multiple agencies—including the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), EOCO, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID)—handle high-profile cases, EOCO has faced the most criticism for stringent bail requirements. He contrasted this with the OSP, which rarely insists on detaining suspects, citing broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere as an example of a high-profile individual who faced no onerous bail conditions.

Tampuli questioned why self-recognisance bail, common in the past, has largely disappeared, recalling that during the NPP’s eight years in government, no one was held in custody for failing to meet bail terms.

He also criticized the reasoning that bail amounts should match alleged financial losses, pointing out that some individuals are detained even in cases unrelated to missing funds.

Calling for urgent reforms, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee urged the creation of a “realigned and properly regulated environment” for granting bail, warning that current practices undermine justice and violate suspects’ rights.