A Senior Nursing Officer, Salomey Awity Baffoe, has been remanded into custody for two weeks by the Adenta Circuit Court 1 in Accra over alleged links to the anonymous TikTok account “Ghana Jollof”.
The account has attracted attention for its criticism of government officials, including President John Dramani Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama.
Ms Baffoe, 40, was arrested during a midnight operation at her residence in Hansua in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region on Sunday, September 13.
According to her brother, Antwi Francis, three individuals two men and a woman dressed in black uniforms and identifying themselves as National Security operatives arrived at the residence at about 11:30 p.m.
“They didn’t show us any warrant. They didn’t state the grounds for arrest. They just told me they were taking my sister to the regional command,” he said.
Her mother, who lives in Jema in the Kintampo South Constituency, also reportedly received a phone call from a man who identified himself as a member of the Jema BNI and alleged that her daughter was the person behind the “Ghana Jollof” account.
She subsequently appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene.
“I am begging President Mahama; please, help me. I don’t know where my daughter is. I don’t know if she has eaten. I don’t know if she is alive. Please, bring her back to me,” she pleaded.
Salomey denies involvement
Days before her arrest, Ms Baffoe had publicly denied any connection to the “Ghana Jollof” account.
In a video obtained by MyJoyOnline, she urged the public to disregard what she described as false claims about her identity.
“I want to urge the public to ignore the lies being spread about me. I am not Ghana Jollof. I am a mother. I am a trader. I have nothing to do with that account. Please, let me live my life in peace,” she said.
Two days later, she was arrested.
Ghana Jollof responds
Following her arrest, the “Ghana Jollof” account released a video claiming that security operatives had arrested the wrong person.
“You people are fools. You arrested the wrong person. Salomey Baffoe is not Ghana Jollof. I am Ghana Jollof. You think you can silence me by arresting an innocent woman? You are wasting your time,” the distorted voice in the video said.
The account did not disclose the identity or location of the person speaking in the video.
Family questions arrest
The family has maintained that Ms Baffoe has no connection to the account and has no political affiliation.
Family spokesperson Abraham Owusu Ansah said the family was neither affiliated with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) nor the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“Our family is from Jema in the Kintampo South Constituency. The First Lady is also from this constituency. We have no political party. We are not NDC. We are not NPP. We are just a family trying to survive,” he said.
He added that the family did not believe the allegations against Ms Baffoe.
Lawyer questions detention
Speaking to the media after the court hearing, Ms Baffoe’s lawyer and Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, questioned the basis for her continued detention.
“Because you want to arrest Ghana Jollof, you have remanded her for two weeks. Meanwhile, you told the court that Ghana Jollof is in the UK,” he said.
The lawyer questioned why Ms Baffoe was being held if the prosecution had indicated that the person behind the account was in the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the Bono East Regional Police Command and Regional National Security operatives reportedly told MyJoyOnline they were initially unaware of the arrest.
The case has generated public interest as authorities continue investigations into the identity of the person operating the “Ghana Jollof” account.
Ms Baffoe is expected to remain in custody for the two-week remand period as investigations continue.
By:Rachael Djabakie