Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has defended the Economic and Organised Crime Office’s (EOCO) decision to impose high bail conditions in major corruption and financial crime cases, especially those involving appointees of the previous administration.
Dr. Ayine was responding to questions from Habib Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tolon and First Deputy Minority Whip, who sought clarification on the recent bail terms set by EOCO and whether alternative arrangements could be considered. The exchange took place in Parliament on Tuesday, November 18.
Explaining the legal basis for EOCO’s actions, Dr. Ayine noted that the office, like all law enforcement bodies, operates under Article 14(4) of the Constitution, which permits the arrest and release of suspects either unconditionally or on reasonable terms that ensure they appear before the court.
He rejected suggestions that the high bail conditions target former government officials, stressing that the requirements vary according to the nature of the alleged crime.
“Bail depends on the crime and the gravity of the offense,” Dr. Ayine said. “The sums involved in these investigations are very large. Setting unreasonably low bail could allow suspects to evade trial without sufficient compensation for the potential financial loss to the state.”
He pointed to cases involving alleged financial losses running into hundreds of millions of cedis, underscoring that bail conditions must correspond to the scale of the alleged offenses.
“There is nothing unjust or unfair with respect to what is happening,” he added, noting that the strict measures are necessary given the “unprecedented” magnitude of the financial crimes under investigation.
