Security agencies will not chase citizens over insults under my presidency – Bawumia

Former Vice President and 2028 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said Ghana’s security agencies will not be used to pursue citizens over insults against political leaders if he becomes President.

His comments follow the arrest and remand of Techiman-based nurse Salomey Awiti Bafoh, who has been accused of abetting the publication of false news linked to videos circulated by the anonymous “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account.

Bafoh, a senior nursing officer at Abrafi Women and Children’s Hospital in Techiman, was arrested at her home in Hansua, near Techiman, around midnight on Sunday, September 13, according to information contained in the police charge sheet.

She has since been remanded for two weeks as investigations continue.

Reacting to the case in a social media post on Friday, September 18, the former Vice President assured that his President will respect the rights to free speech and expression.

"This is not the Ghana we want to build. I can assure Ghanaians that when given the opportunity, our intelligence agencies will not be reduced to chasing citizens for insulting the President or anyone else," he wrote.

Dr Bawumia further described the circumstances surrounding the nurse’s arrest and detention as worrying.

“The story of how a Techiman based nurse and mother of 3 (including a 4yr old) Salomey Bafor Awiti was picked up in the middle of the night by national intelligence officers and has been remanded for two weeks on suspicion that she is abetting the publication of false news is very worrying to read," he wrote.

Dr Bawumia said although he does not support insults in political discourse, the government must protect the right to free speech.

He said he has always opposed what he described as a politics of insults and urged political actors to maintain decorum.

Dr Bawumia also criticised what he described as the selective application of laws, arguing that some citizens are allowed to insult political figures while others face legal action.