Josiah
Policy analyst and President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has called for the immediate release of Kwame Baffoe, the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), following his remand into custody over allegations of publishing false news and engaging in offensive conduct.
In a Facebook post reacting to the development, Mr. Cudjoe questioned the basis for arresting and detaining individuals over opinions they express, warning that such actions could threaten freedom of expression.
“Please release Abronye DC immediately. It should not be the duty of police officers to sheepishly appease politicians by arresting anyone who freely expresses an opinion on another person’s perceived political association, or who simply questions why certain projects have stalled,” he stated.
He also referenced a South African court ruling to support his position on free speech, noting that strong political criticism had previously been deemed fair comment.
“A judge in South Africa once considered the comment ‘President Zuma is a thief’ to be fair comment. People insult us all the time,” he added.
Despite his criticism of the arrest, Franklin Cudjoe cautioned against unnecessary provocation, stating that not every confrontation deserves attention.
His remarks come after Mr. Baffoe was remanded by the Accra Circuit Court into the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) on Tuesday, May 13, 2026.
The NPP regional chairman is facing charges of publication of false news and offensive conduct likely to breach the peace in connection with a video in which he allegedly made derogatory remarks about a Circuit Court judge.
Prosecutors say Mr. Baffoe accused the judge of political bias and made comments considered offensive, including allegations that the judge delivered flawed rulings for political reasons.
The court subsequently denied his bail application and ordered that he remain in custody pending further proceedings. The case has been adjourned to May 27, 2026.
