The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is facing mounting criticism over the bail conditions imposed on Paul Adom-Otchere, the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), which have left him in custody despite being formally granted bail.
Mr. Adom-Otchere’s legal counsel, Nicholas Lenin Anane Agyei, has accused the OSP of setting punitive and discriminatory bail requirements by demanding that his client present two landed properties registered in his name—a condition the defence says is nearly impossible for him to meet.
Speaking to Channel One Newsroom on Thursday, Mr. Agyei described the OSP’s move as an indirect way of extending Mr. Adom-Otchere’s detention under the guise of legal procedure.
“While filling out his profile, Mr. Adom-Otchere disclosed that he does not own any landed property,” the lawyer revealed. “So, for the OSP to insist on two such properties in his name, knowing full well his status, is tantamount to premeditated detention through impossible bail terms.”
He added that such requirements send a dangerous message that access to justice is reserved for the wealthy.
“The implication is clear—those without significant personal assets may be denied bail regardless of the presumption of innocence,” Mr. Agyei said.
The legal team has vowed to challenge the bail conditions through appropriate judicial channels, describing them as inconsistent with the principles of fairness and justice.
While the OSP has yet to comment publicly on the rationale behind the specific bail terms, the case is already drawing attention from civil society and legal observers, who warn that excessive bail conditions could undermine public trust in the justice system.
Mr. Adom-Otchere was invited by the OSP as part of an ongoing investigation, the details of which remain undisclosed to the public.
