Journalist granted GH¢100,000 bail over alleged false helicopter crash report

An Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to Emmanuel Kwakye Asare, a broadcast journalist with Wontumi Multimedia, who is standing trial for allegedly spreading false news about the August 6 helicopter crash.

Asare, host of the programme “Nsempafie” on Wontumi Radio, was admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties. The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, ordered that both sureties must be civil servants, with one earning not less than GH¢5,000 a month.

He is also required to report weekly to the Special Investigations Unit of the Ghana Police Service. The case has been adjourned to September 1, 2025.

The prosecution, represented by Chief Inspector Daniel Danku on behalf of ASP Emmanuel Haligah, had opposed bail on grounds that they were still preparing disclosures.

On Monday, August 25, the court deferred its ruling to Wednesday to consider the prosecution’s objection. Delivering his decision, Mr. Acquah granted bail but attached strict conditions.

Prosecutors allege that on August 9, 2025, during a live radio broadcast, Asare claimed:

According to investigators, Asare suggested that President Mahama was behind the crash at Akrofoum in the Ashanti Region.

The prosecution told the court that the false statement generated public uproar, with the potential to cause fear and panic.

Asare was arrested on August 12, 2025, following police intelligence. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted the offence in his caution statement.

Despite this, he has entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of publishing false news with intent to cause fear and panic.