By Joyce Danso, GNA
Accra, Sept. 12, GNA – Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye, the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who is being held over publication of false news and offensive conduct, has been remanded for one more week.
Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court on Friday, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Baffoe, 43, is said to have made the statement on September 3, 2025, on Ohia TV, an online programme dubbed; “The Evidence,” to wit all strategic meetings conducted by the NDC in Akwatia had the IGP in attendance.
Again, he was alleged to have made offensive and abusive statements against the IGP, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohunu, as “having low Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and is the most foolish IGP in the history of Ghana.
“The current IGP is the most corrupt IGP in the history of Ghana.”
The statements were described as malicious conduct, which was likely to breach the peace.
Baffoe is expected to reappear on September 19, 2025, before the court, presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah.
The trial saw an increased number of party faithfuls who sang to cheer Baffoe on as he was whisked away in the police van, the “Black Maria.”
Although there were a number of Police pick up vehicles with armed men, two coaster buses loaded with police personnel also arrived at the court premises for reinforcement soon after Baffoe was remanded again.
The trial judge, in remanding Baffoe, noted that society was polluted with insults and if that was not checked it would put the country in a state of disrepute.
It was the wish of the court that Ghana would try and prevent insults in the society.
“All Ghanaians should come together to prevent politics of insults. Political parties should check, reduce and take the politics of insults out of society,” the court said.
“If parties engage in such acts and they can’t stop it themselves, it is the duty of the court to play its role in wiping it out of politics.”
The court noted that although the charges were misdemeanor, the words used by the accused person on the IGP were likely to put the security of the nation into disrepute.
Again, it noted that Ghanaians enjoyed the freedom of speech or expression, but that freedom went with responsibilities, quoting Robert Mugabe, former President of Zimbabwe, to support that.
“If citizens of Ghana will not set restrictions for themselves, the court will do that.”
Baffoe’s legal team includes of Mr Freddie Blay, former National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Alexander Afenyo Markin, Minority Leader, and Mr Daniel Martey Addo.
Mr Afenyo- Markin registered his displeasure over the police’s action of keeping Baffoe in custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) although the court ordered that he should be kept in police custody.
That, he said, was meant to punish the accused person, recounting how Baffoe was whisked away in the Black Maria, which suggested the gravity of the offence.
The Minority leader told the court that Baffoe was well known as the NPP Bono Regional Chairman and he should be granted self recognisance bail.
He said Baffoe held economic, social and political ties in Ghana and was not in the position to run away from the jurisdiction.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the accused person would make himself available to the court and would not abuse any favour extended to him.
“We pray on bended knees to grant the accused person bail on favourable conditions. The court must not be swayed to the desire of the police to punish him even before the trial,” he said.
Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, opposed the bail application put in by the defence counsel for the accused person.
According to Chief Inspector Lawer, during investigations, the police chanced on “strong intelligence” in respect of the accused person’s activities and other videos, which bordered on national security.
“We will need the accused persons to assist the Police to thoroughly investigate these issues. The kind of intelligence chanced on cannot be underestimated. We need to jealously guard the security of the state,” he said.
The prosecutor said if bail was extended to the accused person, he would interfere with investigations.
“Accused person will not appear to stand trial. He is a flight risk. Based on his letter he has written to embassies seeking asylum, he is seeking ways of absconding from the country.”
Chief Inspector Lawer said the police was conducting forensics and operating with other intelligence agencies to analyse the videos.
The Ghana Police Service is the complainant in the case.
The facts are that on September 3, 2025, the police intercepted footage that had gone viral on social media, including Facebook, in which the accused was in a live-stream programme on Ohia TV online, dubbed: “The Evidence.”
He was seen making statements, which intended to cause fear and panic to the public.
The accused person, after making the offensive remarks in the video, disseminated it on his Tiktok account named “@bawuniatv.”
Baffoe was arrested by law enforcement agencies for investigations, and a forensic capture of the live stream was obtained as evidence.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe