ABSTRACT
Kɔɔto nhyehyɛeɛ a ɛhwehwɛ sɛ obi de agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu te sɛ asase anaa dan a title deeds anaa land certificates bata ho besi hɔ ansa na wɔagyae no wɔ nsɛmmɔnee kɔɔto mu wɔ Ghana no, yɛhwehwɛ mu wɔ mmra mu akyinnyegyeɛ yi mu. Wɔ krataa yi mu no, mekyerɛ sɛ ɛwom sɛ afiase gyae (bail) yɛ amansan mmra mu kwan a wɔfa so kura kɔɔto adwuma ne obi kwan a ɔwɔ sɛ ɔnya ne ho fahodie ntam no, agyapadeɛ a wɔhwehwɛ no daa no dan amansan mmra mu kwan kɔkyerɛ sika anaa ahonyadeɛ kwan. Ɛnam Ghana Statistical Service data so no, saa nhyehyɛeɛ yi bɔ atsɛntrenea nhyehyɛeɛ mmienu a ɛgyina ahonyadeɛ so, baabi a Ghanafoom kakraabi a wɔwɔ asase a wɔatwerɛ no wɔ aban krataa mu anaa lease nkratam a wɔwɔ no nko ara na wɔnya ho mfasoɔ. Berɛ a ahiafoɔ hyia nsɔhwɛ a ɛyɛ den, bere tenten ansa na wɔadi wɔn asɛm no, wɔagyae adefoɔ no ntɛm ansa na wɔadi wɔn asɛm. Wɔ 1992 Ghana Amansan Mmra, Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), ne atɛmmuo atitire te sɛ Martin Kpebu v. Attorney-General ne Gorman v. The Republic mu no, mekyerɛ sɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu a wɔhwehwɛ no denneennen no to amansan mmra fa a ɛkyerɛ sɛ obi di bim mfiase no, fapem a ɛne pɛpɛɛpɛyɛ ne kwan a ɛtia amanyɔsɛm anaa nsonsonoeɛ, ne nkwa/ankorankorɛ fahodie kwan no bɔne. Nsɛm a yɛasusu ho yi mu nsosoeɛ ne sɛ, Ghanaian kɔɔto nhyehyɛeɛ yi yɛ amansan mmra to a ɛtrɛ tia ahiafoɔ ne wɔn a wɔn ho nni hwee wɔ mfeɛ mu. Ɛnam yei so no, mekasa ma Chief Justice nhyehyɛeɛ (Practice Direction) anaa mmrahyɛbadwam nsakyeraeɛ na wɔde ahyɛ afiase gyae (bail) ma so, sen sɛ wɔde bɛgya atɛmbuafoɔ pɛ so.
INTRODUCTION
Ankorankorɛ fahodie bɔm a wɔde tia aban tumi a ɛhyɛ nkuran no yɛ fapem kɛseɛ ma demokrasi nsɛmmɔnee atsɛntrenea nhyehyɛeɛ biara. Afiase gyae (bail) abakɔsɛm wɔ Ghana abɛyɛ ko a ɛda amansan mmra hyɛdeɛ ne nkɔsoɔ ano hyehyɛeɛ ntam. Wɔ mmerɛ a atwam no mu no, Section 96(7) a ɛwɔ Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act 1960 Act 30 mu de nsɛmmɔnee bebree toɔ mu sɛ “wɔntumi ngyae bail.”[1] Nso wɔ asɛm titire a ɛyɛ Martin Kpebu v. Attorney-General (No. 2)[2] mu no, Ghana Asɛnnibea Kunsini (Supreme Court) sakyerae nsɛmmɔnee mmrasɛm koraa. Supreme Court buu atɛm sɛ mmrahyɛbadwam afiase gyae anohyetoɔ nyinaa yɛ mmara tiawa, a ɛkyerɛ sɛ afiase gyae yɛ amansan mmra mu kwan titire a ɛfiri suban a ɛkyerɛ sɛ obi di bim mfiase no mu pɔtee.
Ɛmfa ho sɛ amansan mmrasɛm yi nyaa nkonimdie kɛseɛ yi, wɔde sikasɛm mu siantsen a ɛyɛ hyɛberɛ asi mmrahyɛ anohyetoɔ no ananmu; yei ne afiase gyae (bail) gyinapɛn a ɛyɛ den ne nea ɛnnso asene a wɔde ba, titire ne sɛ wɔhwehwɛ sɛ wɔde asase anaa agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu si hɔ sɛ agyapadeɛ gyinapɛn. Saa sesa yi mfiri aban fa foforɔ biara mu gye atsɛntrenea (judiciary) no ara hɔ, a ɛwɔ sɛ ɔyɛ atsɛntrenea wano hwɛfoɔ. Mpɛnpii no, mmaranimfoɔ bɛte afiase gyae gyinapɛn atɛmmuo a twaerɛ a ɛfiri atɛmbuafoɔ ne magistrate hɔ, te sɛ “…Wagyae afiase gyae (bail) GHC 100,000 mu a ɛwɔ agyinamfoɔ mmienu, a obiara bɛkyerɛ ne mu den wɔ agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu a ɛwɔ kɔɔto tumi dodoɔ mu.” Saa atɛmmuo yi yɛ daadaa ɛmfa ho sɛ ɔtɛmbuafoɔ anaa magistrate tumi “gyae” ohiani a wɔabɔ no soboɔ wɔ nsɛmmɔnee kumaa anaa deɛ wɔgyae ho bail mu. Saa mmra akyinnyegyeɛ yi ma nhwehwɛmu a ɛmu dɔ fa saa nhyehyɛeɛ yi ho. Ɛkyerɛ sɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu a wɔhwehwɛ no dan afiase gyae bɛyɛ sikasɛm afiri a ɛtwe ahiafoɔ aso, ɛto 1992 Amansan Mmra twerɛ ne ne honhom bɔne, na ɛbɔ amammuro nhyehyɛeɛ a ɛntumi mmra kwan mu wɔ Ghana nsɛmmɔnee sohwɛ mu. Ɛno ti no, ɛho hia sɛ yɛhwɛ statutory framework a ɛwɔ afiase gyae ma mu wɔ Ghana Criminal Justice System mu ne atsɛntrenea pɛ, titire, asɛnnibea atɛmbuafoɔ pɛ mu yie.
THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK AND JUDICIAL DISCRETION
Tumi a Ghana kɔɔto wɔ sɛ wɔgyae afiase gyae (bail) na wɔde gyinapɛn bata ho no, Section 96 a ɛwɔ Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30) mu na ɛhyɛ aseɛ.
A. Statutory Framework under Act 30
Section 96(1) ma kɔɔto tumi sɛ ɔgyae deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no berɛ a ɔhyehyɛ krataa anaa bond, a agyinamfoɔ wɔ mu anaa wɔnni mu, a ɛhyɛ sɛ ɔbɛba kɔɔto anim wɔ berɛ ne baabi a wɔahyɛ mu. Yei kyerɛ sɛ afiase gyae fapem ma deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no ne sɛ, ɔbɛba abɛgyina asɛm no ano berɛ biara a kɔɔto frɛ no. Bio, Section 96(3) hyɛ sɛ “afiase gyae sika dodoɔ no wɔde bɛsi hɔ a wɔrehwɛ asɛm no gyinabea yie na ɛnsɛ sɛ ɛyɛ borosoɔ.” Additionally, Section 96(5) and (6) kyerɛ nneɛma bi a kɔɔto wɔ sɛ ɔsusu ho berɛ a ɔresusu sɛ ɔbɛgyae anaa ɔrennyae bail. Yei bi ne:
- Asɛmmɔnee no su ne emu duru;
- Adanseɛ su a ɛkyerɛ soboɔ no mmoa;
- Asotwe a ebia wɔde bɛma no emu duru;
- Sɛ ɔdefoɔ no, a wɔagyae no afiase gyae mmre a atwam no mu, abua daa sɛ ɔremmfa ne ho mmata bond gyinapɛn a ɔde hyɛɛ mu saa berɛ no mu anaa;
- Deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no tenabea
- Sɛ agyinamfoɔ no wɔ wɔn ho so, wɔwɔ suban pa na wɔwɔ ahonyadeɛ a ɛfata.
B. The Scope of Judicial Discretion
Mmrahyɛbadwa no nkyerɛ pɔtee wɔ Act 30 mu sɛ kwan a wɔfa so kyerɛ gyinapɛn no yɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu. Gyinapɛn yi paw gyina ɔtɛmbuafoɔ no nkutoo so. Nso, atsɛntrenea pɛ nnyɛ krataa a wɔde di dwuma basabasa, te sɛnea Asɛnnibea Kunsini kyerɛeɛ wɔ Gorman v. The Republic.[3] Kɔɔto no buu atɛm sɛ suban a ɛkyerɛ sɛ obi di bim wɔ Article 19(2) a ɛwɔ 1992 Amansan Mmra mu no yɛ deɛ ɛho hia nso ɛnso pɛɛ ma afiase gyae ma. Afiase gyae ma gyina atsɛntrenea pɛ so. Nso saa pɛ yi, ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔde di dwuma basabasa anaa kɔntɔnkyye mu, na mmom wɔ kɔɔto mu ne kwan a ɛfata a ɛwɔ amansan mmra anohyetoɔ mu. Saa ti no, kɔɔto de ne pɛ di dwuma bɔne berɛ a ɔhwehwɛ asase nkratam ntɛm ara a ɔnnhwehwɛ deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no sikasɛm mmerɛ mu mfiase. Ɛto legal requirement a ɛkyerɛ sɛ afiase gyae “ɛnsɛ sɛ ɛyɛ borosoɔ” no kyene de fa kwan bɔne a ɛhyɛ so. Berɛ a kɔɔto resusu afiase gyae borosoɔ ne ne den ho no, ɛwɔ sɛ wɔbɛbɔ wɔn ho ase ma ahiafoɔ ne Ghana nyinaa asetena ne sikasɛm mu ampa no na ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔbɛtena agua so de pɛ tumi di dwuma.
THE SOCIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC REALITY OF GHANA
Wɔn a wɔkamfo sociological jurisprudence te sɛ Roscoe Pound, Rudolf Von Jhering, Williams James, Karl Llewellyn, Max Weber, Karl Max ne Baron de Montesquieu agye akyinnyeɛ sɛ mmra nsa nte ne ho mfiri asetena ne nnipa ampa mu.[4] Afei nso, Roscoe Pound, mmrasɛm mu nimdefoɔ titire bi wɔ sociological jurisprudence mu gye akyinnyeɛ sɛ mmra wɔ sɛ ɛkura pɛpɛɛpɛyɛ wɔ ankorankorɛ, amansan ne asetena mu ehiahia anaa anigyeɛ ntam. Wɔ Pound fam no, mmra botaeɛ ne social engineering na saa engineering yi wɔ sɛ ɛnya nnipa ehiahia ma koraa a nkuraeɛ anaa agyapadeɛ hweteɛ sua.[5] Ɛno ti no, ɛwɔ sɛ wɔde afiase gyae (bail) mmara no to Ghana sikasɛm ne asetena mu ampa mu na ama yɛahwɛ deɛnti a atɛmbuafoɔ hwehwɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu no yɛ amanyɔsɛm anaa nsonsonoeɛ koraa. Mmra no di dwuma wɔ asetena a ɛwɔ nhyehyɛeɛ mu pɛpɛɛpɛyɛni mu, ɛnyɛ baabi a hwee nni hɔ.
Wɔ Ghana no, Asase Wo ne Ne Wura nhyehyɛeɛ mu ampa ne sɛ, Ghanafoom dodoɔ no ara nni agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu anaa afie a wɔatwerɛ no wɔ aban mu wɔ wɔn din mu. Mpo wɔ Ghana te sɛ ɔman mu no, mntam dodoɔ 16 no nyinaa nnyaa kyɛfa wɔ district a wɔtumi twerɛ so. Ɛnam yei so no, mmeaɛ dodoɔ no ara wɔ Ghana no, Lands Commission ntumi mma asase title certificates. Afei nso, nnipa dodoɔ a wɔwɔ asase wɔ Ghana nni lease nkratam. Ghana asase nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ den ampa, a customary land management, stool lands, skin lands, ne family holdings na ɛdi mu akotene.[6] Aban mu title registration a ɛhyɛ Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) ase no yɛ deɛ sika kɔ mu, gye mmerɛ, na ɛwɔ bureaucratic process a ɛyɛ adwumakuo, mmusua a wɔwɔ kwan, ne adefoɔ nko ara na wɔde di dwuma.
Saa asetena mu nsɔhwɛ yi a ɛfa asase nhyehyɛeɛ ho wɔ Ghana yi ama sikasɛm mu kwan nnim ma ahiafoɔ, titire berɛ a ɛba sɛ wɔbɛnya asase krataa sɛ agyinamdeɛ anaa nteaseɛ ma afiase gyae (bail). Sɛ obi bɛnya asase krataa a wɔatwerɛ anaa dan agyapadeɛ no yɛ deɛ kwan nnim ma Ghanani a ɔyɛ adwuma wɔ informal sector mu anaa ɔnya ɔman akatua a ɛsua koraa no. Berɛ a kɔɔto de agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu gyinapɛn to afiase gyae so no, ɛsi gyinapɛn a nnipa dɔɔso kyɛn 80% ntumi nsi so wɔ wɔn ho so, sɛnea data a ɛfiri Ghana Statistical Service kyerɛ no.[7] Nsɔsoeɛ ne sɛ ɔdefoɔ ahiani no wɔ sɛ ɔtena afiase ansa na wɔadi ne asɛm ma mmerɛ a wɔnnim anaa ɔbɛyɛ “professional sureties” nkontompo foɔ adedeeɛ, a wɔfrɛ wɔn “bail contractors” a wɔde agyapadeɛ nkratam ma ahiafoɔ mmusua wɔ sika a ɛborosoɔ, a ɛntiatia mmra so. Berɛ a yei si no, wɔyei ahiafoɔ wɔn ankorankorɛ fahodie fapem kwan mu koraa ɛnam kɔɔto nsi a ɔsi so wɔ asase agyapadeɛ so. Wɔ kasa a ɛdi soɔ mu no, ɛho hia sɛ yɛhwehwɛ amansan mmra to a ɛtia ahiafoɔ no mu yie sɛnea 1992 Ghana Amansan Mmra kyerɛ no.
CONSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE BREACH AGAINST THE POOR
A. Violation of Article 17: The Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination
Article 17(1) a ɛwɔ 1992 Amansan Mmra mu kyerɛ pɔtee sɛ “nnipa nyinaa bɛyɛ pɛ wɔ mmra anim.” Article 17(2) bara nsonsonoeɛ wɔ gyinapɛn a ɛka “bɔbeasu, abusuakuo, honam kɔla, ntini, nyamesom, gyidi anaa asetena anaa sikasɛm gyinabea” ho.[8] Kasa a ɛne “sikasɛm gyinabea” no, wɔn a wɔyei Amansan Mmra no de hyɛɛ mu titire na ama wɔabɔ amanyɔfoɔ ne wɔn a wɔnya sika ketewa ho ban afiri nhyehyɛeɛ mu hyɛsoɔ mu. Ɛno ti no, atsɛntrenea nhyehyɛeɛ a afiase gyae gyina asase agyapadeɛ so no ma ɛyɛ mmerɛ ma adefoɔ a wɔabɔ wɔn soboɔ berɛ a ahiani a wɔabɔ no soboɔ ntumi mmma deed nkratam a ɛhyɛ wɔn ma wɔkɔ remand wɔ afiase a nnipa ahyɛ mu ma. Amansan mmra tiawa nsonsonoeɛ a ɛgyina sikasɛm gyinabea so nko ara na saa dwumadie yi de ba. Ɛgyina wɔn agyapadeɛ so no, nnipa mmienu a wɔabɔ wɔn soboɔ wɔ asɛmmɔnee koro no ara ho no, ɔman atsɛntrenea nhyehyɛeɛ ne wɔn di wɔ kwan soronko mu. Article 17 yɛ deɛ wɔto no tɛnn wɔ saa suban yi mu.
B. Violation of Article 14: Protection of Personal Liberty
“Nnipa biara wɔ kwan sɛ ɔnya ne ho fahodie na nnipa biara nni kwan sɛ wɔgyee ne ho fahodie gye sɛ ɛne kwan a mmra ma ho kwan hyia,” sɛnea Article 14(1) kyerɛ no. Bio, Article 14(4) hyɛ sɛ obi a wɔabɔ no soboɔ no, wɔwɔ sɛ wɔgyae no gu mu anaa wɔ gyinapɛn a ɛfata mu sɛ wɔnni ne asɛm wɔ mmerɛ a ɛfata mu a. Asɛnnibea Kunsini no kyerɛɛ mu tɛnn wɔ Martin Kpebu v. Attorney-General mu sɛ afiase tena ansa na wɔadi asɛm no nna sɛ ɛyɛ deɛ ɛsi daa mmom ɛyɛ deɛ ɛbato mmerɛ bi mu. Saa “gyae” yi di dwuma sɛ afiase hyɛdeɛ berɛ a kɔɔto si afiase gyae gyinapɛn a deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ ntumi nsi so. Berɛ a kɔɔto se ɔrema fahodie berɛ a ɔrekyere afiase tena nam sikasɛm anohyetoɔ so no, kɔɔto twa Article 14 hyɛdeɛ ho kwan. Yei dan atsɛntrenea kɔɔto dwumadie bɛyɛ afiri a wɔde gye fahodie basabasa, a ɛto amansan mmra fapem bɔne.
C. Violation of Article 19(2)(c): The Presumption of Innocence
Obiara a wɔabɔ no soboɔ wɔ asɛmmɔnee ho no “wɔsusu sɛ ɔdi bim kosi sɛ wɔdi no fɔ anaa ɔgyee ne fɔ to mu,” sɛnea Article 19(2)(c) kyerɛ no. Saa suban yi nsosoeɛ ne sɛ ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔtwe obi asotwe ansa na kɔɔto a ɛwɔ tumi adi ne fɔ a akyinnyeɛ nni ho. Saa akyinnyegyeɛ yi ti no, ahiani bi yɛ deɛ ɔresom afiase da a wɔnmbuu no fɔ berɛ a wɔde no to remand mie anaa mfeɛ mu ɛnam sɛ ɔntumi mmma asase krataa. Yei te Article 19(2)(c) tumi so, sakyera adanseɛ soa, na ɛhyɛ ahiani no ma ɔfata asotwe a aban de to so a ɛgyina soboɔ so.
THE SINS ENUMERATED: STAGGERING BILLIONS AND THE TYRANNY OF LANDED JUSTIFCATION BY THE COURTS
Atsɛntrenea bɔne titire wɔ nnɛ mmerɛ yi mu ne sɛ ɛnte ne ho koraa mfiri mmra anohyetoɔ a wɔde to wɔn pɛ so. Section 96(4) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30) kyerɛ tɛnn:
“Afiase gyae sika dodoɔ no wɔde bɛsi hɔ a wɔrehwɛ asɛm no gyinabea yie na ɛnsɛ sɛ ɛyɛ borosoɔ.” Ɛmfa ho saa hyɛdeɛ tɛnn yi, abakɔsɛm a ɛben kyerɛ kwan bɔne a ɛhyɛ asotwe ne sika borosoɔ a ɛnnso asene so.
Some Selected Manifestations of Excess
- The 2025 case of the National Signals Bureau (NSB): Berɛ a Kwabena Adu Boahene, NSB Director-General a ɔtwaam no, ne ne yere, Angela Adjei-Boateng, wɔde polisifoɔ nhwehwɛmu afiase gyae gyinapɛn a ɛyɛ astoundingly GH₵200 million (GH₵120 million ma kunu no ne GH₵80 million ma yere no) bataa wɔn ho no, Asɛnnibea Kuntunnii (High Court - Criminal Division) ma ɛyɛɛ nwonwa. Kunu no bond bɔɔ ase kɔɔ GH₵80 million pɛ a asase agyapadeɛ na ɛwɔ sɛ ɛgyina akyi, mpo berɛ a kɔɔto nhwehwɛmu ne nsakyeraeɛ baaeɛ.
- The National Service Scheme Scandal: Wɔ kwan a ɛyɛ hu koraa mu no, High Court de GH₵800 million afiase gyae bond sii hɔ ma Osei Assibey Antwi, National Service Scheme Executive Director a ɔtwaam no, a akyire no wɔtew kɔɔ GH₵623 million. Kasafuo kyerɛeɛ sɛ na ama wɔayɛ aban hyɛdeɛ no, “ebia mpo ɛwɔ sɛ wɔde Yesu Kristo ankasa ba sɛ afiase gyae gyinapɛn” ɛfiri sɛ saa gyinapɛn no nni baabi a ɛne mpɔtam sikasɛm mu ampa hyia.
- The IMCCoD Case (2026): Berɛ a Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Inter-Ministerial Committee on Customs and Digitalization (IMCCoD) panin a ɔtwaam no, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) ne High Court dii ne ho adwuma no, wɔmaa no GH₵50 million afiase gyae a ɛhwehwɛ agyinamfoɔ baasa, a wɔn mu mmienu wɔ sɛ wɔde agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu kyerɛ ne mu den. Yei kanyan amansan nkasaeɛ.
- The case of Mr. Hanaan, Ghana Buffer Stock Company CEO a ɔtwaam a ne GHC 100 million afiase gyae no nso agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu na na ɛgyina akyi.
- Ɛwom sɛ menam suahunu bebree mu sɛ mmaranimfoɔ wɔ afiase gyae abrokyire mu, me dweneyɛ guu mu berɛ a deɛ megyinaa ne ananmu a wɔabɔ no soboɔ a wɔama no afiase gyae no ntumi nnsi gyinapɛn no so. Bɛyɛ bɔsɔɔm koro no, na ɔwɔ afiase na afei variation application a wɔde kɔyɛeɛ sɛ wɔde agyapadeɛ a ɛtumi tutu a ɛne sika dodoɔ no yɛ pɛ bɛsi agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu ananmu no, circuit court poweɛ.
Mpɛnpii no, mmaranimfoɔ (prosecutors) taa se saa sika nom kyerɛ sika a wɔahwere anaa wɔawia no dodoɔ, nso saa adwene yi fra afiase gyae botaeɛ. Afiase gyae botaeɛ titire ne sɛ wɔbɛhwɛ sɛ deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no bɛba kɔɔto bio, ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔbɛnya agyapadeɛ firi mfiase anaa wɔbɛbɔ sikasɛm gu ansa na adansefoɔ koro pɛ akasa.
Deɛ ɛsen saa no, ɛbɔ kwan a ɛnyɛ adwuma sɛ wɔde asɛm ba a ɛhwehwɛ sɛ cedi sika ɔpepepe dodoɔ no wɔde asase agyapadeɛ bɛgyina akyi. Mpo adefoɔ mpo hyia afiase tena mmerɛ tenten wɔ ɔman a aban asase title koraa wɔ Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) ase no yɛ den na ɛgye mmerɛ.
COMPARATIVE GHANAIAN CASE LAW AND JUDICIAL WARNINGS
Ɛwom sɛ nhyehyɛeɛ mu dwumadie kyɛre kyɛn atɛmmuo pa, Ghana atsɛntrenea no agye atom mmerɛ bi mu fa hu a ɛwɔ afiase gyae gyinapɛn a ɛborosoɔ ho.
A. The Reasonability Principle: Gorman v. The Republic v. Gorman
Asɛnnibea Kunsini (Supreme Court) siisi so wɔ Gorman v. The Republic[9] mu sɛ afiase gyae botaeɛ titire ne sɛ wɔbɛhwɛ sɛ deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no bɛba ne asɛnni mu. Kɔɔto no kyerɛeɛ sɛ ɛwom sɛ aban wɔ kwan sɛ ɔkyere wɔn a wɔbɔ wɔn soboɔ na wɔanwane, anohyetoɔ a wɔde to so no wɔ sɛ ɛne saa hu no hyia. Saa proportionality principle yi to berɛ a wɔde asase title nkratam to so daa no, sɛ deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no bɛnwane anaa ɔrennwane.
B. Rejecting Speculative Confinement: Okoe v. The Republic
Justice Taylor de nkasaeɛ titire maeɛ wɔ adwenedwene afiase tena ansa na wɔadi asɛm ho wɔ Okoe v. The Republic mu.[10] Ɔkyerɛeɛ sɛ ɛnsɛ sɛ atɛmbuafoɔ de adwenedwene anaa gyinapɛn a ɛbu ani gu asetena soronko so te fahodie so. Saa adwene yi nso di dwuma wɔ sikasɛm mu; sɛ, ɛyɛ adwenedwene sɛ obi bɛsusu sɛ deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no bɛba kɔɔto ara pɛ sɛ wɔde asase agyapadeɛ abɔ no ban, a wɔbu ani gu nkuro foforɔ a ɛnnyɛ sikasɛm so.
C. International Human Rights Obligations
Ghana de ne nsa ahyɛ amanaman ntam nnipa kwan ahyɛdeɛ bebree ase na ɔyɛ amanaman ntam kyɛfa a wɔbu no yie. Ɔman no wɔ sɛ ɔdi amanaman mmra so sɛnea Article 40 a ɛwɔ Amansan Mmra mu kyerɛ no. Sɛnea Article 9(3) a ɛwɔ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) mu kyerɛ no, ɛnsɛ sɛ ɛyɛ gyinapɛn daa sɛ wɔn a wɔretwɛn asɛnni no bɛtena afiase, na mmom wɔtumi gyae wɔn wɔ agyinamdeɛ a ɛkyerɛ sɛ wɔbɛba asɛnni mu so. United Nations Human Rights Committee kyerɛɛ mu tɛnn sɛ sika anaa agyapadeɛ agyinamdeɛ no wɔ sɛ wɔsusu ho gyina ankorankorɛ no sikasɛm gyinabea so; sɛ akyi no, ɛbɛyɛ kyere basabasa. Fahodie ne ankorankorɛ banbɔ kwan no, Article 6 a ɛwɔ African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) mu na ɛbɔ ho ban. Sɛnea African Commission Guidelines on the Conditions of Arrest, Police Custody, and Pre-Trial Detention in Africa kyerɛ no, ahenni nyinaa wɔ sɛ wɔde akwan a ɛnnyɛ afiase di dwuma yie na wɔhwɛ sɛ afiase gyae gyinapɛn no nnyɛ sika borosoɔ. Ghana to ne domestic amansan mmra ne ne hyɛdeɛ wɔ amanaman ahyɛdeɛ ase berɛ a ɔma ne kɔɔto foɔ kwan sɛ wɔnhwehwɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu sɛ gyinapɛn daa no.
CONCLUSION
Mewie asɛm yi sɛ, ɛyɛ mmra to ne nhyehyɛeɛ mu nsonsonoeɛ a ɛtia wɔn a wɔabɔ wɔn soboɔ, titire ahiafoɔ, berɛ a Ghana atɛmbuafoɔ taa hwehwɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛntumi mntutu a asase certificates anaa title nkratam bata ho sɛ afiase gyae (bail) hyɛdeɛ. Saa kwan yi bɔ atsɛntrenea nhyehyɛeɛ mmienu a mmra mma ho kwan denam nnipa kwan fapem a ɛdan agyapadeɛ a ɛgyina ahonyadeɛ so mu. Berɛ a ahiafoɔ hyia afiase tena a ɛyɛ den, mmerɛ tenten ansa na wɔadi asɛm koro no ara, adefoɔ tumi tɔ wɔn ntɛm afiase gyae. Saa dwumadie yi to Ghana amanaman ntam nnipa kwan hyɛdeɛ wɔ African Charter ne ICCPR ase, ne Articles 14, 17, ne 19(2)(c) a ɛwɔ 1992 Amansan Mmra mu. Ghana atsɛntrenea no wɔ sɛ ɔtwa agyapadeɛ gyinapɛn hwehwɛ yi mu na ama wɔakura mmra so ne amansan ahotosoɔ wɔ atsɛntrenea sohwɛ mu. Kɔɔto foɔ wɔ sɛ wɔfa akwan foforɔ a ɛnnyɛ afiase a ɛsusu ankorankorɛ no nwanewane hu ampa so na ɛnyɛ wɔn ahonyadeɛ dodoɔ so. Ɔhiahia nna sɛ wɔbu no sɛ asɛmmɔnee wɔ Ghana mmra ase da.
RECOMMENDATIONS OR REFORMS
Ɛgyina nsɛm a yɛasusu ho yi so no, mede afotuɛ yi ma atsɛntrenea ne mmrahyɛbadwa;
a. Ghana atsɛntrenea nhyehyɛeɛ no wɔ sɛ ɔsakyera firi agyapadeɛ afiase gyae kɔ hu-gyinapɛn afiase gyae mu na ama wɔagyae saa nhyehyɛeɛ a ɛyɛ nsonsonoeɛ yi.
b. Atɛmbuafoɔ ne magistrate foɔ wɔ sɛ wɔyɛ sikasɛm mu nhwehwɛmu a wɔatwerɛ (means-testing) fa deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ ho ansa na wɔade afiase gyae gyinapɛn a ɛfa sika anaa agyapadeɛ ho atoto so. Kɔɔto no wɔ sɛ ɔsusu akwan a ɛnnyɛ agyapadeɛ ho titire berɛ a wɔhu sɛ deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no yɛ ahiani.
c. Act 30 hwehwɛ sɛ kɔɔto trɛm agyinamdeɛ a wɔgye to mu no mu na ɛka agyapadeɛ a ɛtumi tutu a wɔtumi hwɛ mu ho, te sɛ mmoa a wɔyɛ kuadwuma, kar a wɔatwerɛ (nam Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority certificates so); anaa sikasɛm akaunte a ɛsisi ho (te sɛ bank statements anaa mobile money wallets mpo).
d. Na ama wɔahwɛ sɛ wɔbɛba, atsɛntrenea no wɔ sɛ ɔde ne ho to amamerɛ ne asetena mu nkitaho so kyɛn. Ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔhwehwɛ asase title nkratam na ama wɔahwɛ sɛ deɛ wɔabɔ no soboɔ no bɛba; mmom suban pa agyinamfoɔ a wɔfiri aadwumayɛfoɔ a wɔatwerɛ wɔn, mpɔtam asoeɛ emu ni, nyamesom akannifoɔ a wɔagye wɔn tom, anaa mmusua ti foɔ bɛfata.
e. Wɔ mmerɛ a mfiridwuma ne digitalization kɔ so yi mu no, biometric ne digital nhwehwɛmu tumi kɔ so. Kɔɔto foɔ tumi de nnɛ mmerɛ mfiridwuma a biometric verification mfiridwuma hwɛ so di dwuma, na ama wɔama kwan a ɛyɛ adwuma yie, a nni nsonsonoeɛ a ɛte nwanewane hu so a wɔntow nnipa afiase ɛnam sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ ti.
f. Mmrahyɛbadwa no wɔ sɛ ɔhyɛ mmra a ɛbɛdi so na/anaa ɛbɛhyɛ afiase gyae (bail) ma so kyɛn sɛ wɔbɛgya ma atɛmbuafoɔ pɛ.
g. Chief Justice no wɔ sɛ ɔyɛ Practice Direction na wɔde ahyɛ afiase gyae ma so wɔ Ghana.
[1]Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act 1960 Act 30
[2]Martin Kpebu v. Attorney-General (No. 2) [2016] GHASC 10
[3] Gorman v. The Republic [2003–2004] 2 SCGLR 784
[4] Bhardwaj Arunesh & Agarwal Anshika, Indian Law Embracing Sociological Jurisprudence: A Detailed Study, International Journal of Law and Legal Jurisprudence Studies: Volume 2 Issue 3.
[5] Stephen Offei, Jurisprudence and Legal Philosphy 3rd Ed.
[6] Karikari Isaac, Ghana’s Land Administration Project (LAP) and Land Information Systems (LIS) Implementation: The Issues. International Federation of Surveyors, 2006.
[7] Ghana Statistical Service (2026). Multidimensional Poverty Report 2024 Q1 – 2025 Q3. Ghana Statistical Service, Accra.
[8] 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
[9] Gorman v. The Republic [2003-2004] 2 SCGLR 784
[10] Okoe v. The Republic [1976] 1 GLR 80
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