The former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has been hospitalised under emergency conditions after his health took a precarious turn while in police custody.
Sources close to the veteran politician confirmed on Tuesday, 17th March 2026, that Mr. Blay was rushed to an undisclosed medical facility for urgent care after his blood pressure rose to dangerously high levels.
The health crisis follows his remand by the Akropong Circuit Court on Monday in connection with a land dispute in Kitase.
Mr. Blay’s hospitalisation comes amid a complex legal battle involving allegations of an unlawful demolition. The court ordered his remand until April 9, 2026, after he was arrested on a year-old warrant.
The case centers on a parcel of land in Kitase that Mr. Blay reportedly purchased in 1994. The prosecution alleges that:
Mr. Blay is accused of ordering the demolition of a house under construction on the contested land.
Police claim the arrest warrant was issued in April 2025 after the former chairman repeatedly failed to honour invitations to assist with investigations or appear for his scheduled arraignment.
An aide to Mr. Blay confirmed the medical emergency, attributing the spike in blood pressure to the stress of the sudden arrest and detention. The aide reiterated that the former chairman remains firm in his innocence regarding the criminal charges.
The defence maintains that no building was demolished. Instead, they argue that in January 2026, Mr. Blay directed the clearing of a bare piece of land to eliminate a breeding ground for dangerous reptiles. They further contend that the dispute is civil rather than criminal, as the landowner’s previous High Court victory in Koforidua is currently being challenged in the Court of Appeal.
It remains unclear if his legal team will file an emergency bail application on medical grounds before the April 9 court date.
