We’ll impose $500m bail on NDC members when NPP returns to power – Abanga

National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Abanga Fusani Yakubu, has warned that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) could face a $500 million bail condition if the NPP returns to power.

He said the threat is in response to what he described as excessive bail conditions and arrests involving NPP members under the current NDC administration.

Mr Abanga said the NPP had also made strong statements while in opposition but eventually returned to power, despite such predictions.

“Whatever they are doing to us, I think that they should take cue and also know that we will come back to power. If we[NPP] come, the bill bond for them[NDC] will be $500 million," he said when speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, October 6.

Abanga Fusani specifically criticised the bail conditions imposed on some suspects, arguing that being arrested or accused of an offence does not amount to being guilty.

“A suspect is not a criminal. Suspect doesn’t mean you are guilty. You are innocent until a court of competent jurisdiction determines a matter and finalizes that you are guilty, and therefore you can be penalised. The fact that you suspect me doesn’t mean you can punish me,” he said.

The NPP National Youth Organiser also accused the government of creating an environment in which citizens are increasingly afraid to criticise those in power.

He cited recent arrests over alleged social media activities as an example of what he described as the criminalisation of free speech.