Akosua Manu addressing media ahead of the protest
Women across the country have hit the streets in a demonstration dubbed “Women’s Voices Matter” to demand the immediate release of Salomey Baffoe.
The demonstrators, who converged at the AMA Park before proceeding to the premises of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), gave President John Dramani Mahama 24 hours to ensure her release.
The women alleged that Salomey has been detained by the government and that her family does not know her whereabouts.
Emotions ran high during the protest as one woman broke down in tears, appealing to the First Lady and the Vice President to intervene and secure Salomey’s release so she could return home to care for her children.
Clad in red and black, the women marched through major streets within the business district with placards which read, “Madam Veep, Speak up against the abuse of women!”, “Don’t abuse people’s rights because your wife is hurt” and “Let our women breathe without fear”, among others.
Speaking at the demonstration, a convener, Akosua Manu, rejected allegations linking Salomey Awiti Baffoe to the anonymous TikToker Ghana Jollof, stating that the evidence presented is insufficient.
She argued that remand is being misused as a punitive measure, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for Ghana’s political culture and undermines fair justice.
“They drove her nine hours to Accra without her family knowing where she was. Today, Salomey is still in the grips of the Police. We are begging our tyrant President Mahama to stop victimising women and free Salomey,” said Akosua Amoabeng, another convener.
Handing over a petition to the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Akosua Manu called on the Ministry to live up to its mandate.
“Our mandate includes protecting women, ensuring their economic empowerment, child and social protection. Very critical to our development,” she said.
“In the last couple of months, we’ve seen the unlawful detention of women, unlawful arrests. We’ve even heard of an abduction, and the family of the victim has confirmed the same. We are asking that you speak against it and, most importantly, assure Ghanaian women that this will end.”
“We are also calling for the implementation of the Affirmative Action Bill — 30% representation as was promised by His Excellency. As we speak, one of our own, a woman just like you, a mother, has been remanded. She has been there for at least a week,” she added.
Senior Nursing Officer Salomey Awity Baffoe was arrested and remanded over allegations that she helped circulate videos from the critical anti-government TikTok account “Ghana Jollof”.
She was picked up at 11:30 p.m. on September 13, 2026, from her home in Hansua by men identifying as National Security operatives. Her family initially could not locate her.
During a press briefing at the Police Headquarters, the Director-General of the CID, Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, stated that the actual creator of the “Ghana Jollof” account is Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, who is based in the United Kingdom.
Nurse Salomey is accused of acting as a local liaison who recruited people to spread and redistribute the controversial videos on social media. She faces a provisional charge of abetment of crime.
Her lawyer, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, and other legal practitioners like Martin Kpebu criticised the detention, arguing it makes little sense to hold the nurse when authorities admitted the main suspect is overseas.
A bail application filed with the High Court in Accra was dismissed, keeping her in custody amid a growing public debate over free speech.
Groups such as the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) engaged police to check on her safety, confirming she was unharmed while in custody.
Civil society figures, activists like Oliver Barker-Vormawor, and various online groups have also raised concerns over midnight arrests, free speech, and the application of cyber laws to content sharing.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke