A Kumasi Circuit Court has granted a GHC100,000 bail with two sureties, to Manhyia South NDC organiser Alhassan Mustapha.

Mustapha was summoned for questioning before the Ashanti Regional Police CID for allegedly threatening violence in the run-up to the 2024 elections.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of offensive conduct and threats of death over his alleged inflammatory remarks captured in a viral video.

Making his first appearance on Thursday (29 February) state prosecutors prayed the court to remand the suspect while police advance their investigations. But the court rejected the request after lawyers for the accused person pushed for his freedom.

“My client was invited [by the police] and not arrested”, said Evans Amankwah, the lead counsel for the accused person. “It was yesterday around 10:30 pm that we had a call that he was supposed to come to court today. When we came to court the facts and the charges were read and he pleaded not guilty interestingly the police vehemently opposed this, but the court exercised its discretion and granted my client bail”.

“Let me use this opportunity to clarify that the NDC has no intention to plunge this country into flames. Everybody in this country knows that come 2024 John Mahama will win this election…So, I will advise our people to be very careful and circumspect in all the conversations they have outside”, he added.

The case has been adjourned to 14 March 2024.