In a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding the alleged kidnapping of the Abetifihene, the Mpraeso Circuit Court has decided to revoke the bail of 17 out of the 27 suspects involved in the case. This decision came after revelations by the prosecution that the suspects had falsely claimed to be National Security operatives.

State Attorney Cyril Keteku led the prosecution in highlighting this discrepancy, which prompted the court to take a firmer stance. The prosecution further requested, and was granted, a court warrant for the Cybersecurity Unit of the Ghana Police Service to access CCTV footage from Abetifi township, dated November 7, 2024, when the incident occurred, aiming to gather more concrete evidence.

Despite arguments from the defense, represented by Kimanthi and Partners, that every offense is bailable under Ghanaian law, presiding judge Adwoa Akyemaa Ofosu sided with the prosecution’s concerns. She ordered the 17 suspects to be held in custody until the next court date, set for January 6, 2025.

Meanwhile, of the other 10 suspects, only four, including Nana Yaa Asantewaa, a prominent figure, have successfully met their bail conditions, leaving six others still detained.

Lead counsel for the accused, Francis Bruce, expressed to the media that they are awaiting the detailed ruling to plan their subsequent legal strategy. This case continues to attract significant public and media attention due to the involvement of traditional leadership and the allegations of impersonation and kidnapping.

This revocation of bail underlines the seriousness with which the court views the allegations and underscores the ongoing effort to ascertain the truth in this high-profile case. The retrieval of CCTV footage could play a pivotal role in the forthcoming sessions of the trial.