The Adenta Circuit Court has granted 40-year-old Techiman-based senior nursing officer Salomey Awiti Baffoe bail of GH¢100,000 with two sureties, bringing an end to weeks of detention as she awaits the continuation of a case involving alleged false news publication. Editorial Standards
The court granted the bail on Monday, October 5, 2026, after lawyers for Baffoe, led by Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, renewed their request for her release.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Justice Srem-Sai, did not oppose the application.
Presiding Judge Angela Attachie ordered that the two sureties be justified and must be civil servants earning not less than GH¢3,000 per month.
As part of the conditions, Baffoe is also required to report to police investigators once every two weeks at the Hesua Police Station.
The court has adjourned the case to February 17 for continuation.
Baffoe has been charged with abetting the publication of false news in connection with the social media activities of TikTok personality Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, popularly known as “Ghana Jollof”.
She has pleaded not guilty to the charge and remains entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence unless and until the allegations against her are proven in court.
According to the prosecution’s case, Baffoe allegedly acted as an intermediary for Kodua and assisted in the dissemination of videos by recruiting other individuals to share or redistribute the content on social media.
The allegations remain before the court and have not been established as fact.
Baffoe’s bail application comes after an earlier attempt to secure her release was unsuccessful.
The Accra High Court refused a previous bail application in September after prosecutors argued that she was still needed to assist with investigations and that her release could create a risk of interference with witnesses.
In its earlier ruling, the High Court described the investigation as cyber-related and directed the Republic to expedite its investigations.
The decision did not amount to a determination of Baffoe’s guilt. Editorial Ethics & Independence
Monday’s successful application was reportedly the third attempt by Baffoe’s legal team to secure her release.
Her lawyers argued that she had already spent about three weeks in police custody and should be granted bail while the case continued.
The prosecution did not oppose the renewed application, paving the way for the Circuit Court to impose its own conditions for her release.
The case has attracted considerable public attention, particularly in Baffoe’s home community in the Bono East Region.
Before the latest bail decision, residents and traditional leaders from Jema in the Kintampo South District had appealed for her release, describing her as a responsible member of the community.
Baffoe was reportedly arrested during a midnight operation on September 13 at her residence in Hansua in the Techiman Municipality.
Her family and community members subsequently raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the arrest and questioned her alleged connection to the “Ghana Jollof” account.
The prosecution, however, has maintained its case against her, alleging that she played a role in helping circulate material associated with the TikTok account.
The court will ultimately determine the strength of those allegations based on the evidence presented during the proceedings.
The case has also drawn attention because of the wider debate surrounding online speech, misinformation and the limits of criminal law in dealing with social media publications.
Ghanaian law criminalises certain forms of false publication, particularly where the conduct falls within the relevant provisions of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
At the same time, the legal process requires that an accused person be treated as innocent until proven guilty. Corrections Policy
The granting of bail does not mean that the court has dismissed the allegations against Baffoe rather, it allows her to remain out of custody while complying with conditions imposed by the court and attending future proceedings.
For Baffoe and her family, the latest ruling provides an opportunity to reunite after weeks of separation while the legal process continues.
Her obligation to report to police investigators every two weeks will also allow investigators to maintain contact with her as the case progresses.
The February 17 hearing is expected to provide the next major development in the case.
Until then, the allegations against Baffoe remain subject to judicial determination, while her release on bail allows her to prepare her defence outside custody. Newscard
The case continues to underscore the importance of balancing investigations into alleged online offences with due process, the presumption of innocence and the constitutional rights of accused persons.