Ghana's state investigators and courts have demanded at least GH¢1.7 billion (roughly $146 million) in bail from persons accused of offenses against the state since President John Dramani Mahama took office in January 2025.
President John Dramani Mahama's Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) campaign, aimed at pursuing alleged corruption under his predecessor, Nana Akufo-Addo, has led to the arrests of former appointees, opposition politicians, serving public servants, and other people charged with financial crimes against the state. The bail amounts have varied widely, with the largest figure of GH¢800 million set for Osei Assibey Antwi, former head of the National Service Authority, accused in a payroll scandal of causing a loss the attorney-general later put in the billions of cedis. A court set his bail at GH¢800 million on Oct. 30, 2025, but it was later reduced to GH¢623 million in November and to GH₵120 million in December, which he then met.
The bail amounts have been a contentious issue, with the opposition New Patriotic Party, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development, and a Supreme Court petitioner arguing that unreachable bail is being used as a backdoor to detention, in breach of constitutional bail rights. Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine has defended the bail levels, saying the severity of an alleged offense determines the bond and that suspects who find the terms too steep may ask a court to lower them. The prosecution of Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, former chief executive of the National Food Buffer Stock Co., and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, shows the volatility. Over an alleged school-feeding fraud put at GH¢78 million or more, EOCO first set his bail at GH¢60 million in June 2025, but it was later raised to GH¢150 million in October, and then reduced to GH¢60 million and GH₵3.5 million, respectively.
The cases have been ongoing for months, with none of them reaching a verdict. The bail amounts have been subject to multiple revisions, with some suspects being held for weeks before being able to meet the conditions. The prosecution of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, since charged as the first accused, was declared a fugitive, with no local bail set. The bail list also includes Dennis Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who was arrested at the airport in July 2026 over an alleged GH¢55 million matter and met the conditions to be released on July 14.
The high bail amounts have raised concerns about the impact on the accused individuals and the justice system as a whole. The controversy surrounding the bail amounts is likely to continue, with the opposition and other groups pushing for reforms to ensure that the bail system is fair and does not infringe on constitutional rights.
Source: JOY
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