OKESS firearm case: Student, stepfather granted GH¢80,000 bail

A District Court in Mamponteng has granted bail to a student. The student is from Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS). He is under investigation for unlawful possession of a firearm.

The court, led by Natacha Abena Tuffour, set the bail at GH¢50,000. The student's father, Daniel Owusu Baafi, also received bail of GH¢30,000. The student claimed his father owned the firearm.

Both bails require two sureties each. One surety for the student must be a government employee earning at least GH¢4,000 monthly. The stepfather's surety must earn no less than GH¢3,000.

The court did not take their plea. Police prosecutors stated the incident happened on May 14, 2025. An assistant headmaster found the student with a locally made pistol on campus.

The student was handed over to the police immediately. Investigations later led to the arrest of his stepfather, who is a pastor.

Both were granted police enquiry bail before being formally charged under Section 192 of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). This law prohibits unlawful possession of firearms.

In court on Wednesday, police revealed that the stepfather denied owning the weapon. He claimed it belonged to his late uncle who died a year ago. He said the pistol was stored in his uncle's room and that the boy retrieved it from there.

The court has adjourned proceedings until June 17, 2025.