Former Speaker of Parliament, Mike Oquaye, Slams OSP Over Martin Kpebu's Bail Condition
- A former Speaker of Parliament has criticised the OSP over bail conditions imposed on lawyer Martin Kpebu
- Professor Mike Oquaye described the bail requirement for landed property as a violation of suspects’ human rights
- The OSP said Kpebu was arrested after a confrontation at its Accra office, where he allegedly insulted the officers
Former Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye has condemned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over the bail condition imposed on private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu.
According to the veteran politician, bail conditions are currently being abused by the security agencies in Ghana.
Source: UGC
He described the one imposed on Kpebu by the OSP, helmed by Kissi Agyabeng, as 'onerous' and a violation of human rights.
Oquaye, who served under former President Nana Akufo-Addo from 2017 to 2021, questioned why suspects are required to justify their bail with landed property.
He said that with such heavy bail conditions, he wonders what would happen if suspects who do not own landed property need to secure their freedom from the security agencies.
“Bail being used to show people where the power lies is not a new matter. We have known this since legal practice decades ago - bail being manipulated in this regard.
"There is no principle of law anywhere in any civilised country where the bail that must be justified must have a landed property in the name of the person who is a suspect.
“Because that means that people who don't have landed property, therefore, can never get bail? What is this? These are matters of principle, issues of law, issues of human rights,” he said in an interview with TV3.
OSP justifies Martin Kpebu's arrest
Martin Kpebu was arrested and detained for several hours on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the OSP’s head office in Accra, before being released later that night.
According to the Director of Strategy, Research and Communication, Samuel Appiah Darko, Kpebu was arrested after he engaged in a heated confrontation with OSP officers, during which he allegedly insulted them.
He claimed that the altercation had occurred after OSP guards reminded Kpebu of the expected code of conduct on the premises.
"He reacted angrily to the reminder and insulted the guards. They issued a formal warning about his conduct, but he insisted he could act as he pleased and threatened to report them. He told them they are nobodies - even their boss, the head of the agency, is nobody and will be removed soon."
Source: UGC
OSP inspects Martin Kpebu's property
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported earlier that OSP escorted Kpebu to inspect his landed property as part of the conditions for his bail.
The move was part of an ongoing probe into allegations the renowned lawyer reportedly made against the office, headed by Agyabeng.
A video shared on Facebook captured Kpebu being driven in a white Toyota pickup truck from the OSP head office premises in Accra.
The vehicle was followed by two black four-wheel cars, one resembling a Prado, and another black saloon, en route to the lawyer's property.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
