Nana Darkwa Baafi released on bail

Saturday, February 20, 2010 (Page 3 Lead)

THE chaos and extreme anger displayed by supporters of a radio panellist who was remanded in custody by the Accra circuit court on Thursday melted yesterday when he was released on bail by a High Court.
Hundreds of supporters, some clad in New Patriotic Party (NPP) apparel, sang and danced in jubilation when Nana Darkwa Baafi walked out of the court premises after signing his bail bond.
Baafi had been remanded in custody for two weeks by the circuit court barely seven hours after he was alleged to have stated on Top Radio, a private radio station, that former President J.J. Rawlings had deliberately set fire to his house on February 14, 2010 in order to get President J. E.A. Mills to relocate him.
However, his counsel, Mr Kwame Akuffo, filed a bail application at the High Court, on the grounds that the crime Baafi was alleged to have committed was a misdemeanour for which bail could be granted.
Counsel had also argued that the case against his client had been overblown, with the reason that the accused person’s statement was totally harmless.
The prosecution did not oppose the grant of bail to Baafi.
Subsequently, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Abdullai Iddrisu, granted Baafi bail in the sum of GH¢400 with a surety.
He is expected to reappear before the circuit court on March 3, 2010 for the substantive case to continue.
Baafi has pleaded not guilty to one count of publishing false news with intent to cause alarm under Section 208 of Act 60 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
After his release around 11.40 a.m., excited supporters, family members and sympathisers carried him shoulder high and sang victorious songs.
Baafi told reporters that he had spent the night at Burma Camp under the watch of Military Policemen and not in prison custody.
He also stated that he had been treated well by the Military Police and thanked all who supported him in his turbulent moments.
The facts of the case were that on February 18, 2010, the accused person went to the radio station as a panel member in a radio discussion programme and during the discussions the host raised the issue of the recent fire outbreak at the former President’s residence.
The prosecution stated that the accused person, who was not present during the fire outbreak and without any truth, stated, among other things, that the former President had intentionally caused the fire outbreak to compel the current President to relocate him.
According to the prosecution, the statement incensed the public and a sizeable number of people rushed to the radio station, ostensibly to attack the host and the panel members.
The police rushed to the scene to restore law and order and subsequently whisked the panel members away to safety.
It further stated that Baafi admitted the offence during interrogation at the Accra Regional Police Headquarters and asked for forgiveness.
The complainant in the case is Mr Kofi Adams, the Spokesperson for former President Rawlings.