Techiman nurse arrested for allegedly recruiting people to circulate ‘Ghana Jollof’ videos

The Ghana Police Service has explained the arrest of Techiman-based nurse Salomey Awity Bafoh, accusing her of helping to disseminate videos produced by the anonymous TikTok account, “Ghana Jollof”.

Bafoh, a senior nursing officer at Abrafi Women and Children’s Hospital in Techiman, was reportedly arrested at her home in Hansua, near Techiman, around midnight on Sunday, September 13.

Her family had previously said three persons who identified themselves as National Security operatives took her away from the house.

However, according to an amended charge sheet filed at the Adentan Circuit Court on Thursday, September 17, Bafoh allegedly acted as a liaison for Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, also known as “Ghana Jollof”, who is currently outside the jurisdiction.

The police have charged Bafoh with abetment of crime, specifically the publication of false news, contrary to sections 20(1) and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

The charge sheet states that Bafoh, 40, assisted Kodua in disseminating videos posted on TikTok by recruiting other people to redistribute and circulate the content across various social media platforms.

“Investigations subsequently identified the 1st Accused, Salomey Awiti Bafoh, as a collaborator of the 2nd Accused. It has been established through investigations that the 1st Accused assisted in the dissemination of the videos produced by the 2nd Accused by recruiting other persons to redistribute and circulate the material through various social-media platforms,” the charge sheet read in part.

The police further alleged that investigations had uncovered a financial arrangement between the two accused persons, with Kodua allegedly sending money from the United Kingdom to Bafoh in Ghana to support the activities.

The charge sheet said Bafoh subsequently distributed portions of the money to other individuals allegedly involved in redistributing and recirculating the videos.

The police also alleged that Kodua had used the “Ghana Jollof” account to publish videos containing offensive and inciting statements with the potential to provoke violence.

“In one of the videos under investigation, the 2nd Accused threatened to overthrow the Government of Ghana, that she will burn Ghana amongst other things,” the police said.

The second accused, Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, is listed in the charge sheet as being “at large” and is said by the police to be domiciled in the United Kingdom.

Bafoh has since been remanded in custody for two weeks as investigations continue.

The police said investigations are also ongoing to identify and locate other persons allegedly involved in the redistribution of the videos.