On Thursday, September 24, the High Court refused a bail application for Salomey Awiti Baffoe, a 40‑year‑old Senior Nursing Officer from Techiman, after the prosecution opposed her release. The court cited the cyber‑related nature of the investigation linked to the high‑profile “Ghana Jollof” TikTok controversy and warned that releasing Ms Baffoe could risk interference with witnesses. It directed the Republic to expedite the investigation.
Dr Jones Opoku‑Ware, a criminologist and lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, criticised the decision as “high‑handedness” and argued that the offence is a misdemeanour, not warranting prolonged detention. He said suspects facing misdemeanour charges should ordinarily be considered for bail rather than held beyond the mandatory 48‑hour period.
“I want to disagree with the court because I feel that for whatever it is worth, this is not the kind of crime that this lady should be held even beyond the mandatory 48‑hour period,” Opoku‑Ware told JoyNews’ The Pulse. He added that the continued detention amounted to excessive use of state power and urged authorities to apply the law fairly and respect citizens’ rights.
The case highlights tensions between judicial discretion and civil liberties in Ghana’s criminal justice system. Observers will watch how the prosecution and court respond to the criticism and whether Ms Baffoe’s status changes in the coming days.
