A lawyer for Techiman-based nurse Salomey Awiti Bafoh, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has filed a bail application at the High Court on her behalf. Madam Bafoh was remanded into custody for two weeks by the Adenta Circuit Court ‘1’ for allegedly aiding TikToker Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, known as ‘Ghana Jollof’. Mr. Awuah is optimistic about securing bail, citing that investigations have been completed and there is no basis for her to remain in custody.
Madam Bafoh, a mother of three, has been in custody for 10 days, sparking concerns about her ability to care for her children. Her lawyer argues that there is no outstanding investigation to be conducted, questioning the need for her continued detention. The bail application is set to be heard at the High Court Complex on Wednesday at 9 o’clock.
The case has sparked a debate about freedom of speech and the use of intelligence agencies to pursue citizens over insults directed at the President or other individuals. Former Vice President and 2028 flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on the government to release Madam Bafoh, describing her detention as an assault on freedom of speech.
The Ghana Police Service has declared Barbara Asantewaa Kodua wanted for allegedly inciting violence through her social media videos. A poster shared on the social media pages of the Service indicated that she is currently hiding in the United Kingdom and was last seen on August 4, 2022, at the Accra International Airport. The police are seeking information about her whereabouts.
Madam Bafoh has been charged with one count of abetment of crime – publication of false news for her alleged role in the circulation of Ghana Jollof’s videos. Although Barbara Asantewaa Kodua appears on the prosecution’s charge sheet as the second accused person, no specific charges have been levelled against her. The police accuse her of using her social media platform to produce and publish videos containing offensive and inciting statements.
The case has raised concerns about the increasing trend of insults in Ghanaian politics. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia stated that intelligence agencies should not be used to pursue citizens over insults, adding that this is not the Ghana they want to build. The government has yet to comment on the matter.
The bail application hearing is set to take place on Wednesday, with Madam Bafoh’s lawyer confident about securing her release. The case continues to attract attention, with many calling for Madam Bafoh’s release and an end to what they see as an attempt to gag critics of the government.
Key points
- Madam Bafoh’s lawyer has filed a bail application at the High Court, seeking to secure her release from custody.
- The case has sparked a debate about freedom of speech and the use of intelligence agencies to pursue citizens over insults.
- Barbara Asantewaa Kodua has been declared wanted by the Ghana Police Service for allegedly inciting violence through her social media videos.
