Salomey Awiti Bafoh
Lawyer for Techiman-based nurse and mother of three, Salomey Awiti Bafoh, who has been remanded for allegedly aiding TikToker Barbara Asantewaa Kodua (‘Ghana Jollof’), would move an application for bail today on her behalf as they seek to get her released from custody pending trial.
Her lawyer, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, filed the application at the High Court after the Adenta Circuit Court ‘1’ refused an oral application for bail and remanded her into custody for two weeks.
Mr. Awuah is optimistic that the legal team would be able to secure bail for Madam Bafoh, which will see her return home and take care of her children.
“It was filed on Friday, and the date for hearing is Wednesday at 9 o’clock at the High Court Complex. We are very confident that she’ll be released to go and enjoy life and take care of her children, who have not had their mother for the last 10 days,” he told the press.
He argued that there is no basis for the accused to remain in custody since investigation concerning the accused has effectively been completed.
“Demonstrably from the government’s own statement, there’s no outstanding investigation to be conducted. So why is she being held?” Mr. Awuah added.
Madam Bafoh’s remand last Thursday resuscitated the debate around what some describe as an assault on freedom of speech and an attempt to gag the current government’s critics.
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 who was remanded for allegedly abetting the publication of false news.
She was reportedly picked up in the middle of the night by National Intelligence officers and has subsequently been remanded for two weeks over the allegation.
“This is not the Ghana we want to build,” he stated, adding that intelligence agencies should not be used to pursue citizens over insults directed at the President or other individuals.
Wanted
The Ghana Police Service has declared Barbara Asantewaa Kodua wanted for being behind the ‘Ghana Jollof’ account on TikTok used to hurl vile insults at government officials.
A poster shared on the social media pages of the Service pointed out that the suspect is currently “hiding” in the United Kingdom and was last seen on August 4, 2022 at the Accra International Airport.
The woman, said to be 40 years old, is fair in complexion and is wanted for allegedly inciting violence through her social media videos.
“Anyone with information about the suspect, should kindly contact the nearest police station or call 0500100010,” the poster added.
Remanded
Salomey Awiti Bafoh was remanded into custody for two weeks for allegedly “serving as liaison” for ‘Ghana Jollof’ to publish and circulate false news on social media.
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 which many consider to be vile, further raising concerns about insults gaining their way into Ghanaian politics.
Although Barbara Asantewaa Kodua appears on the prosecution’s charge sheet as the second accused person, no specific charges were levelled against her.
The police, however, indicated in its summary of facts that she used her social media platform to produce and publish videos containing offensive and inciting statements with the potential to provoke violence.
They further accused her of threatening to “overthrow the Government of Ghana,” adding that Ghana Jollof said “she will burn Ghana amongst other things.”
BY Gibril Abdul Razak