Bawumia Demands Release of Remanded Techiman Nurse, Warning Against Free Speech Crackdown
New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called for the immediate release of Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a senior nursing officer remanded over false news allegations.
In Brief
- •New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called for the immediate release of Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a senior nursing officer remanded over false news allegations.
- •Bafoh was arrested at her home in Hansua near Techiman by individuals identifying as National Security operatives on September 13, 2026, and later remanded for two weeks by the Adentan Circuit Court.
- •Prosecutors allege Bafoh acted as a local liaison distributing social media videos created by UK-based TikTok creator Barbara Asantewaa Kodua ('Ghana Jollof'), which included threats against the state.
- •Bafoh pleaded not guilty to charges under Sections 20(1) and 208 of Ghana's Criminal Offences Act, but the court denied bail citing ongoing national security investigations.
Why It Matters
The late-night arrest and detention of a healthcare professional over distributed social media content have intensified debates surrounding political expression, civil liberties, and security service oversight in Ghana. Dr. Bawumia's vocal opposition highlights growing political friction over alleged selective prosecution and the policing of public discourse.
Key Details
- Defendant
- Salomey Awiti Bafoh
- Date of Arrest
- September 13, 2026
- Court Ruling Date
- September 17, 2026
- Remand Duration
- 2 weeks
- Primary Charges
- Abetment of publication of false news (Act 29)
Context & Background
Section 208 of Ghana's Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) criminalizes the publication of false statements or reports likely to cause public fear, alarm, or disturbance. Critics and legal scholars have periodically questioned the application of this section in social media cases, arguing over the line between public safety and constitutional guarantees of free speech.
What To Watch
Salomey Awiti Bafoh is scheduled to reappear in the Adentan Circuit Court on September 30, 2026.
Original Reporting & Sources
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