Bail is being weaponised against suspects - Tampuli on EOCO's hefty bail conditions

The “weaponisation” of bail by state investigative bodies, particularly the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), is becoming a concern, according to New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Gushegu, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on November 22, 2025, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli argued that bail, which exists to protect the rights of suspects, is being used as a tool to intimidate or pressure people under investigation.

“It appears that bail is now more or less being weaponised, used as a weapon to oppress suspects or persons of interest with some very wondrous bail terms and conditions,” he said.

Wontumi meets EOCO's GH₵50m bail conditions, but remains in custody

According to him, several investigative bodies such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), EOCO, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) handle major cases, but EOCO, in particular, has faced public criticism for imposing harsh bail conditions.

He contrasted EOCO’s approach with that of the OSP, saying the Special Prosecutor rarely insists on detaining suspects.

“OSP, you will hardly find any instance where OSP will insist that somebody must be held in custody,” he said, pointing to broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere as an example of a high-profile figure who was not subjected to tough bail requirements.

Tampuli, who serves as the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, also questioned why self-recognisance bail, once commonly applied, seems to have disappeared.

“We were in this country for the eight years that NPP was in power. Can you mention one person who was held in custody because he couldn’t meet any bail conditions?” he asked.

He criticised the argument that bail amounts must correspond to alleged financial losses, insisting that some suspects are being kept in custody even when their cases have nothing to do with missing funds.

“There are people who have been held in custody unrelated to any loss of money. Why are you still holding them in custody? What are you trying to recover from them?” he said.

Watch the video below:

'Bail is being used as a weapon to oppress accused persons. Raymond Archer brings a different philosophy to EOCO and it has to be regulated. Maybe it's because he is a media person, because almost every case of EOCO is in the media space.'

-Hassan Tampuli (MP, Gushegu)… pic.twitter.com/KkYGpBO5qn

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) November 22, 2025