A group of women in Ghana took to the streets on Tuesday to demand the immediate release of Salomey Awitey Baffoe, a 40-year-old woman who has been detained for allegedly abetting the publication of false news in connection with the Ghana Jollof TikTok case. The protesters, participating in the “Women’s Voices Matter” protest, assembled at the AMA Park before moving to the premises of the Economic and Organised Crime Office, EOCO. They chanted “Free Salomey now” and expressed frustration over what they regard as the prolonged detention of Ms Baffoe.
Ms Baffoe was arrested during a midnight operation at her residence in Hansua in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region on Sunday, September 13. She was subsequently brought before the courts in connection with allegations arising from the Ghana Jollof TikTok case. The High Court refused an application for bail filed on her behalf on Thursday, September 24, after the prosecution argued that she remained relevant to ongoing investigations. The court cited the cyber-related nature of the investigation and expressed concern that releasing Ms Baffoe at that stage could create a risk of interference with witnesses.
The protesters issued a 24-hour appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in the matter, with some participants chanting “John Mahama, free Salomey” and expressing frustration over what they regard as the prolonged detention of Ms Baffoe. The demonstration was characterised by intense emotion, with some of the women breaking down in tears as they demanded answers about the circumstances surrounding Ms Baffoe’s continued stay in custody. The protesters argue that the continuation of her detention should not become excessive and insist that she should be treated fairly and in accordance with the law while the investigation proceeds.
According to the women, their concerns extend beyond the individual circumstances of Ms Baffoe. They said women already contend with considerable social and economic pressures and that those who become involved in legal or investigative proceedings should receive treatment that respects their rights and dignity. They stressed that the demonstration was therefore intended to draw attention not only to Ms Baffoe’s situation but also to broader concerns surrounding the treatment of women in Ghana and the need for women to be heard when they raise grievances about their circumstances.
KOKA, a participant in the protest, said he had decided to join the demonstrators because issues affecting women should be regarded as matters of concern to the entire society. He pointed to the women in his own family as part of his motivation, noting that he has sisters and a mother and therefore believes the concerns being raised by the demonstrators should not be ignored. KOKA also questioned the continued detention of Ms Baffoe, particularly the explanation that investigators still require her assistance in accessing information connected to her mobile phone.
The defence has similarly questioned the basis for continued detention, with lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah previously arguing that the police had already seized Ms Baffoe’s phones and that the remaining investigative work involved other persons allegedly connected to the redistribution of the videos. The defence has also indicated that it intends to challenge the High Court’s refusal of bail. KOKA further questioned what he regarded as differences in the manner in which various cases receive public attention and official communication.
At the EOCO premises, the protesters maintained their chants and continued to demand Ms Baffoe’s release, with some participants visibly overcome with emotion. The demonstration comes amid growing public and political interest in Ms Baffoe’s case following the High Court’s refusal to grant bail. Other public figures and political actors have also called for her release or intervention in the matter, while the prosecution and the court have maintained that the ongoing investigation and the possibility of interference with witnesses were relevant considerations in the bail proceedings.
Key points
- The protesters demand the immediate release of Salomey Awitey Baffoe
- The demonstration highlights broader concerns surrounding the treatment of women in Ghana
- The court cited the cyber-related nature of the investigation in refusing bail to Ms Baffoe
