The Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has been granted bail in the sum of GHC150,000 with one surety to be justified by the Circuit Court in Accra.
He is facing provisional charges in connection with the Ahafo Hwediem mob assault on military officers from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
The court, presided over by Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, ruled on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, that the MP’s plea should not be taken yet as investigations have just begun.
As part of the bail conditions, the court directed that the accused must not leave the jurisdiction of the Greater Accra Region without prior notice to the case investigator.
He is also required to report to the CID investigator once every two weeks until the order is reversed or the trial commences.
The court cautioned the accused to desist from any conduct likely to frustrate police investigations. The case was adjourned to December 1, 2025.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Alex Odonkor, urged the court not to take the plea of the accused and to remand him into custody. He argued that the matter had assumed a national character, prompting the CID Headquarters to take over investigations.
According to the prosecution, the accused, being an influential political figure, could potentially interfere with investigations, witnesses, and evidence. They cited viral videos showing how the crime was committed, emphasizing the risk of obstruction should the accused be released.
Chief Inspector Odonkor further informed the court that investigators from the CID Headquarters would need to travel to Hwediem in the Ahafo Region to continue their probe into the incident.
The defense, led by Enoch Sebastian Owusu and Nana Gyamfi, vehemently opposed the prosecution’s application for remand. They maintained that the accused had voluntarily presented himself to the police and was not arrested, showing his willingness to cooperate with investigators.
Counsel for the MP reminded the court that the accused is a sitting Member of Parliament with a permanent residence in Accra, and therefore posed no flight risk.
They argued that the prosecution had failed to provide concrete evidence of any likelihood that the accused would interfere with investigations, insisting that mere allegations were insufficient grounds for remand.
The defense further emphasized the accused’s constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, adding that he is the breadwinner of his family and a new father, hence deserving of bail on humanitarian grounds.
After listening to both sides, the court ruled that there was no compelling justification to remand the accused since a proper arraignment was yet to be held.
The judge therefore granted bail but imposed strict conditions to ensure the accused’s cooperation with ongoing investigations.
Police say other suspects, including Zakaria Yakubu, one Alex, and several others, are currently at large as investigations continue.