Arrested Ghanaian Activist Struggles for Bail

A Ghanaian activist who was supposed to be released on bail has reportedly spent another night in jail.

Earlier on Wednesday, 16 March, Oliver Barker-Vormawor – a lawyer and doctoral student at the University of Cambridge in England – was apparently granted bail by the Tema High Court after he was charged with allegedly threatening to cause a coup.

Bail was set at $200 000, and he had to give up his passport and property-related documents to the police. Plus, he would have to report himself to a police station once a week.

Later that day, however, the court’s registrar was apparently unable to submit the documents presented by the sureties for verification at the Lands Commission. As a result, Barker-Vormawor had to spend another night behind bars.

The activist – who previously convened the #FixTheCountry protests against President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government – was arrested on 11 February after he allegedly posted on social media that he would stage a coup if Ghana’s parliament passed a bill to impose a tax on mobile money transfers.

It is unknown at this stage if and when Barker-Vormawor will undergo a trial.

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