Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Abdul-Wahab Hannan, has finally been released after two weeks in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The former CEO was detained as officials continued to evaluate the two sureties presented for his bail bond after their arrest. Insiders say the ex Buffer Stock CEO broke down several times in detention. He reportedly lamented as investigators quizzed him over some alleged crimes.
Mr. Hannan was arrested along with his wife on June 25 over alleged financial crimes. While his wife has since been released on a GH¢30 million bail, he had been yet to fully meet the conditions of his GH¢60 million bail. After two weeks, he is now out.
On Thursday July 3, some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and supporters of the former CEO gathered at the EOCO premises, demanding his release.
National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, accused state authorities of using harsh bail conditions as a backdoor strategy to detain the former CEO.
He argued that when bail terms are deliberately set beyond reasonable reach or used as a tool to delay release, it amounts to a violation of constitutional protections.
“In Matin Kpebu vrs the Republic of Ghana, every offence is bailable, even murder is bailable. So you cannot explain to any reasonable mind why you will keep him excessive of the stipulated law time and even go beyond.
Ghanaian fashion
“Then you impose draconian bail conditions when you know that it is difficult to meet. When you do that, you are using the backdoor strategy to detain the person. It is as if you have given the head, and you are holding the tail. That is the new strategy of this government,” he stated.
