The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has gone back to the High Court with a fresh request seeking tougher bail terms for former BOST Managing Director, Edwin Provencal—just days after his legal team succeeded in getting his bail reduced from GH¢60 million to GH¢30 million with two sureties.
Provencal was arrested on Monday, November 10, at Kotoka International Airport while preparing to travel to Mozambique. He is currently under investigation for allegedly causing financial loss to the state.
EOCO initially granted him a GH¢60 million administrative bail, but his lawyers petitioned the High Court for a variation, leading to a reduction to GH¢30 million with two sureties.
However, EOCO has now filed a new application asking the Court to modify its own ruling by adding two crucial requirements:
- Justification of the sureties, and
- A clear reporting schedule for Provencal during the ongoing investigations.
In an affidavit signed by Joseph Normesinu, an Assistant Staff Officer at EOCO, the agency argues that the current bail conditions pose a significant risk because they are unenforceable if the accused absconds. According to EOCO, the absence of justification means the State has no property or financial assets to rely on in case bail forfeiture becomes necessary.
The affidavit asserts that without justification, “the sureties are not required to provide any property for the Republic to rely on if the accused jumps bail and the sureties fail to produce him.”
EOCO maintains that justification is a standard legal safeguard ensuring that sureties have the financial capacity to cover the bail amount if the need arises.
The application further stresses that a surety must be a credible financial guarantor, and without verifying their means, the State is left vulnerable.
EOCO also highlighted that the Court’s earlier decision did not outline any reporting obligations for Provencal—an important condition when investigations remain active.
The Office is therefore requesting the Court to modify its November 18 order to include these additional conditions, arguing that they are necessary to prevent the bail from becoming meaningless should the accused fail to comply.
