The lead counsel for Salomey Awitti Baffoe, a Techiman nurse arrested over Ghana Jollof TikTok videos, has alleged that the police case against her is "founded on lies". Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah made these claims on Adom TV's Nnawotwi Yi program. He disputed the police's account of the case, stating that they would respond to every public statement made by the police to protect their client's image. Baffoe was arrested and charged with abetment of crime for allegedly assisting in spreading videos produced by Barbara Asantewaa Kodua.
According to the police, Baffoe assisted in spreading videos produced by Kodua, who is believed to be based in the United Kingdom, by recruiting other persons. The joint operation involving the National Signals Bureau and the Police led to her arrest. Baffoe was put before the court on a charge of abetment of crime, specifically publication of false news, and was remanded into police custody. She is scheduled to reappear on September 30. The police case against her centers on a video that allegedly sensationalized an attempted coup at Jubilee House.
Awuah questioned the police's claims, stating that the video played at the briefing did not show Baffoe calling for the overthrow of the government. He challenged the charge sheet, citing that his team was not informed when their client was being taken to court and did not receive a copy of the charge sheet. The judge, however, ruled that the matter concerned national security and ordered Baffoe remanded. Awuah expressed concerns that if the issue indeed pertained to national security, she would have been kept in a national security installation for investigation instead of being released to the CID.
Awuah also disputed the charge sheet's claim that Baffoe lives in Accra and committed the offense within the Adentan circuit. He argued that she should have been arraigned before a court in the Techiman circuit. Furthermore, he pointed out that a video she posted on the Ghana Jollof page had garnered over 30,000 views and 500 shares as of August 2025. He questioned whether Baffoe had recruited all those people who viewed and shared the video.
The lawyer argued that even if the police account is true, it does not imply that Baffoe can be arrested for a crime committed by her friend. He suggested that the case demonstrates the police's desperation to arrest Kodua and that they are "looking for anything to hang on". Awuah emphasized that his team will respond to every public statement made by the police to protect Baffoe's image.
The case has raised concerns about the role of social media in spreading information and the limits of free speech. Baffoe's arrest has sparked a heated debate about the Ghanaian police's handling of social media-related cases. The police's actions have been criticized, with many questioning the legitimacy of the charges against Baffoe.
The court has ordered Baffoe to be remanded in police custody until her next appearance on September 30. The police case against her remains ongoing, with Awuah vowing to challenge the allegations and protect his client's rights. The outcome of the case is yet to be determined, but it has already sparked significant attention and debate in Ghana.
Key points
- The police case against Salomey Baffoe is "founded on lies", according to her lawyer.
- Baffoe was arrested and charged with abetment of crime for allegedly assisting in spreading videos produced by Barbara Asantewaa Kodua.
- The case has raised concerns about the role of social media in spreading information and the limits of free speech in Ghana.
