Court Denies Bail to NPP Supporter Accused of Assaulting Multimedia Journalist

The Accra Circuit Court has remanded 55-year-old Theophilus Thompson, a known sympathiser of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), for allegedly assaulting Latif Iddrisu, a journalist with the Multimedia Group.

The alleged assault occurred on the evening of May 27, 2025, during a protest in front of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra. The demonstration was staged by several NPP supporters and Members of Parliament in response to the arrest of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman.

According to a police statement issued on June 8, Thompson was arrested the previous day, June 7, in James Town around 5:00 p.m.

At his court appearance on Monday, June 9, Thompson pleaded not guilty. His lawyer urged the court to grant bail, arguing that Thompson had a permanent residence and posed no flight risk. He also referenced section 97(4) of Act 30, which states that bail should not be denied as a punitive measure.

The prosecution, however, opposed the request, highlighting that investigations were ongoing and other suspects had not yet been apprehended. The State Attorney expressed concern that releasing Thompson could obstruct the investigation or lead to witness tampering.

The defence maintained that the prosecution had failed to provide evidence supporting these claims.

In the end, the court agreed with the prosecution and remanded Thompson into custody. The case has been adjourned to June 18, 2025.

The hearing drew a strong show of support from the NPP leadership, with National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B) and National Youth Organiser Salam Mustapha present in court.