Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has criticised what he describes as growing abuses in the administration of bail by some state institutions, warning that bail is increasingly being used as a form of punishment rather than a legal safeguard.

Speaking at the funeral rites of Dr. Mahama Sayibu on Thursday, May 28, 2026, the senior National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmaker accused the Ghana Police Service, the courts, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) of imposing excessive bail conditions and, in some cases, denying bail unjustifiably.

“In Ghana today, we have seen excesses; excesses from the Police, excesses from the Court, excesses from EOCO denying persons bail, and using bail as punishment for accused persons. That is not law,” he said.

Mr. Iddrisu stressed that Ghana’s legal framework clearly outlines how bail should be administered and cautioned against arbitrary denials or the imposition of unreasonable conditions that effectively punish accused persons before trial.

He cited Sections 96(3) and 96(4) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), noting that bail conditions must be reasonable and tailored to the circumstances of each case.

The Education Minister also referenced Article 19(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty through a fair trial.

“Don’t deny an accused person bail or ask an accused person to pay excessively as a punishment. Every person is presumed innocent until after a fair trial,” he stated.

Mr. Iddrisu further called for reforms within the justice system and urged institutions responsible for administering justice to exercise fairness, restraint, and respect for the rights of accused persons.

“I expect that in Ghana today we must end the high-handedness and excessiveness in matters relating to bail, its denial, and its conditions,” he added.

His remarks come amid growing public debate over bail practices in Ghana, with legal practitioners and civil society organisations increasingly raising concerns about restrictive bail conditions that keep accused persons in custody despite being granted bail.

The comments also follow recent calls by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak for reforms to Ghana’s bail and remand system.