The Ghana Police Service has uncovered an alleged network of persons funding and facilitating the online activities of Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, popularly known as "Ghana Jollof". Investigations have established alleged financial links between Ms Kodua, believed to be domiciled in the United Kingdom, and Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a nurse resident in Techiman. The Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, disclosed this at a press briefing in Accra on Friday.
According to COP Donkor, police intelligence identified Ms Kodua as the owner of a TikTok account operating under the name "Ghana Jollof", which was allegedly used to publish false news likely to cause fear and alarm, as well as offensive and inciteful comments with the potential to provoke violence. One of the videos under investigation contained a false claim that there had been a near coup d'état at the Jubilee House.
Investigations have identified Ms Bafoh as an individual who allegedly assisted Ms Kodua by recruiting other persons to redistribute and circulate the videos across various social media platforms. Examination of the suspects' mobile devices and the contents retrieved from them, coupled with audio interviews, have established a friendship between the two women.
Forensic analysis of audio and video files, alongside mobile money records, has shown that significant sums were transferred to Ms Bafoh by influential individuals, portions of which were subsequently shared with Ms Kodua and others involved in circulating the videos. COP Donkor stated that forensic analysis of voices and other evidence retrieved from Ms Bafoh's records had been transcribed and would be tendered in court as evidence.
Ms Bafoh was arrested on September 17, 2026, in a joint operation by the National Signals Bureau and the Ghana Police Service and was subsequently charged with abetment of crime, to wit, publication of false news. She was remanded into Police custody to assist investigations and is expected to reappear on September 30, 2026.
The CID Director General said investigations were continuing to identify and locate other persons who participated in the redistribution of the videos, as well as persons suspected of secretly financing the activities. She cautioned the public that acts, conduct and publications that contravened the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772), and the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), constituted criminal offences.
COP Donkor urged social media users to exercise caution in their online engagements and assured of continued police collaboration to maintain law and order. The investigations have established financial arrangements between the two suspects, under which Ms Kodua, while in the United Kingdom, allegedly remitted money to Ms Bafoh in Ghana to support the activities.
Key points
- The Ghana Police Service has uncovered an alleged funding network behind 'Ghana Jollof' online activities.
- The alleged network involves financial links between Barbara Asantewaa Kodua and Salomey Awiti Bafoh.
- The investigations have led to the arrest of Ms Bafoh, who has been charged with abetment of crime.
