A District Court in Mamponteng has granted bail to a 16-year-old student of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) and his stepfather, Daniel Owusu Baafi, a pastor, following their arrest over the alleged unlawful possession of a firearm.
The student was apprehended on May 14, 2025, after an assistant headmaster at OKESS found a locally manufactured pistol in his possession during school hours. The school promptly handed the teenager over to the police, triggering a wider investigation that led to the arrest of his stepfather.
During initial investigations, Baafi, who now faces charges under Section 192 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), denied any connection to the weapon. In his caution statement, he claimed the gun belonged to his late uncle and had been left behind in the deceased relative’s room. He suggested the student might have discovered and taken the weapon from there without his knowledge.
Presiding Judge Natacha Abena Tuffour set bail for the student at GH¢50,000, with two sureties — one of whom must be a government worker or a senior staff member earning at least GH¢4,000 monthly. Baafi was granted bail at GH¢30,000 with similar surety conditions, including one person with a monthly income of no less than GH¢3,000.
The court did not take pleas from either of the accused. Both were initially released on police enquiry bail prior to their formal arraignment.
The case has drawn attention not only for the involvement of a high school student but also for the arrest of a pastor, raising concerns about gun storage practices and access to firearms in domestic settings.
Investigations are still ongoing, with the case expected to return to court in the coming weeks.
