A District Court “B” in Sunyani has imposed restrictions on the movements of Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the former Employment and Labour Relations Minister.
As part of his bail conditions, the former Sunyani West MP, who is also the owner and financier of Nsoatreman Football Club (FC), cannot leave or travel outside the Sunyani Municipality without judicial approval.
The court, presided over by Eric Daning, gave the order when the former minister, 58, and two other suspects, Agyemang Duah Owusu, his bodyguard, and Joseph Kyeremeh, appeared before it on Tuesday.
They were in court for their alleged involvement in the tragic murder of Francis Frimpong, an ardent supporter of Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC, during a violent disturbance on Sunday, February 2, 2025, which resulted in Frimpong’s death.
The incident occurred when Nsoatreman FC hosted Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC in Matchday 19 of the Ghana Premier League at the Nsoatre Professor Amoah Koromansah II Stadium.
When the case was heard, the court charged Baffour-Awuah and Kyeremeh with “abetment to commit a crime, to wit murder” under Sections 20(1) and 46 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).
They were granted bail of GH¢500,000 each, with one surety to be justified. However, Mr. Baffour-Awuah was ordered to submit his passport to the court registry for 14 days.
The court charged Owusu with murder and remanded him in police custody. The suspects will reappear in court on Monday, February 17, 2025.
Prosecuting, Inspector Alexander Oppong told the court that the suspects were involved in the murder of the deceased and prayed that they all be remanded in custody to assist with investigations.
He added that a search conducted in Owusu’s room led to the retrieval of two dresses with suspected blood stains and an MP 23 pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition.
However, defense counsel Moses Obah prayed the court to grant his clients bail, arguing that they were prominent personalities who would cooperate with police investigations.