The Minority in Parliament has condemned the arrest and what they describe as “excessive” and “unfair” bail conditions imposed on Alhaji Abdul Hannan Wahab, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2024 Parliamentary Candidate for the Pusiga Constituency.
Mr. Wahab and his wife were arrested on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in what the Minority called a “coordinated operation” that treated them as though they were fugitives in a press statement released on Sunday, June 29. The two are being investigated by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for alleged tax evasion, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state, though the Minority insists “these are merely allegations and no evidence has been proven.”
What has especially angered the Minority is the strict bail condition that requires Mr. Wahab to post GHS 50 million with two sureties who must justify assets matching the full amount. His wife’s bail was set at GHS 30 million with similarly tough requirements.
The Minority strongly believes this is not justice but a form of punishment before trial. “Bail is not supposed to be a punishment or a pre-conviction sentence. It is meant to ensure that an accused person appears for trial, not to punish or intimidate them,” they stressed.
They further questioned, “What is the justification for bail conditions that amount to financial punishment before trial? Where in our laws does it say someone must risk bankruptcy just to secure their freedom while under investigation?”
According to the Caucus, Mr. Wahab is a respected public servant with no flight risk. “He is a family man, not a criminal,” the statement said. “The manner in which he and his wife were treated is not only harsh—it is humiliating.”
The Minority believes this is part of a worrying pattern where state institutions are being used to settle political scores. They described the arrest as politically motivated, stating, “This is not about justice—it is political persecution. It sends a worrying signal that people who served in a past administration will be targeted once power changes hands.”
Calling on EOCO’s Acting Executive Director, Raymond Archer, the Minority said, “How you handle this will define your legacy. Posterity is watching. Ghana is bigger than any political party, and the abuse of institutional power will not be forgotten.”
They urged all Ghanaians, civil society, the media, and religious leaders to demand fairness, cautioning, “Justice must not depend on political colours.”
The Minority concluded by calling for an immediate review of the bail conditions to ensure they are fair, reasonable, and in line with Ghanaian law. “Ghana must rise above this politics of revenge and retaliation. No public servant should be punished simply for serving under a different administration,” they said.
