Ghana’s Parliamentary Minority has launched a scathing attack on the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), accusing the anti-corruption agency of using bail conditions as a form of “pre-trial punishment” in the case of former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) boss, Abdul Hannan Wahab, and his wife.
In a strongly worded statement, Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei described the arrest and subsequent treatment of Wahab and his wife as “humiliating, excessive and politically motivated”.
The couple were detained in a coordinated operation by EOCO officers in Accra and Tamale on 25 June. They are facing allegations including tax evasion, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state. However, no formal charges have yet been proven.
Speaking on behalf of the Minority Caucus, Ms Appiagyei condemned the bail terms set by the authorities,GH¢50 million for Mr Wahab and GH¢30 million for his wife, as “punitive and unjustified”.
“These are just allegations. Why should bail feel harsher than a sentence?” she asked. “This is not how justice works. It’s persecution in disguise.”
She added that Wahab, a former public servant, posed no flight risk and questioned the legal rationale behind the steep bail demands.
“Bail is meant to guarantee someone’s appearance in court, not to crush them,” the statement read. “Section 96 of the Criminal and Other Offences Procedure Act makes this clear.”
The Minority further suggested that EOCO’s actions are part of a broader pattern of political retribution by the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
“This is not about accountability, it’s about settling scores,” the statement alleged. “What we are witnessing is a silent purge of individuals linked to the previous administration.”
The Caucus also issued a pointed warning to EOCO’s Acting Executive Director, Raymond Archer, urging him to act within the bounds of justice and fairness.
“Posterity is watching. History will judge your conduct,” the statement said, calling on civil society, the media, and the religious community to push back against what they see as a dangerous precedent.
Despite their criticisms, the Minority said they support lawful investigations and the pursuit of justice, but insisted that justice must be impartial and humane.
“Let us not weaponise our institutions for politics,” they said. “What was wrong yesterday remains wrong today, no matter who is in power.”
The group is demanding an immediate review of the bail terms for Wahab and his wife, and is calling for their release on what they describe as “reasonable and dignified conditions.”
