The Accra High Court has acceded to a motion filed by Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe, known as Abronye, permitting him to exit the jurisdiction to undertake a master’s programme while his criminal proceedings remain pending.
The leave was granted upon stringent conditions, chief among them a mandatory appearance before the bench on the next adjourned date to ensure continuity of the trial. The court underscored that the dispensation does not vitiate the substantive charges nor prejudice the prosecution’s case.
According to the accused, the application was premised on the constitutional right to education and the assurance that his client harbours no intention of absconding. Defence submitted that academic advancement would not impede the administration of justice, citing precedent where courts balanced fair trial rights with personal development imperatives.
According to the Office of the Attorney General, prosecutors did not oppose the motion but insisted on safeguards, including the surrender of travel documents upon return and periodic reporting to the police. The state reiterated its commitment to diligent prosecution while acknowledging judicial discretion in managing defendants’ liberties during lengthy adjudication.
According to Justice Srem-Sai, such judicial indulgence illustrates the tension between presumption of innocence and the exigencies of criminal accountability. He noted that courts routinely weigh flight risk against individual rights, often granting temporary relief where accused persons demonstrate fixed addresses, community ties, and credible sureties.
Source: #JoyNews
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Author: Korkor Anumu
