Police uncover alleged network behind Ghana Jollof videos

The Ghana Police Service (GPS) says it has uncovered an alleged network responsible for producing, financing and distributing videos published by TikTok personality Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, popularly known as Ghana Jollof.

According to the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), investigations have linked Salomey Awity Baffoe, a nurse based in Techiman, to the redistribution of the videos on various social media platforms.

The police said forensic examination of Mrs Baffoe's mobile phone and mobile money transaction records had also revealed financial links between her and individuals suspected of supporting the activities.

Director-General of the CID, Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, disclosed this at a press briefing in Accra yesterday while providing an update on investigations into alleged false news publications, inciting comments and offensive conduct involving Ghana Jollof and the arrest of Mrs Baffoe.

“Highly influential persons in society have transferred significant sums of money to the suspect Mrs Baffoe, who in turn shares the money with Ghana Jollof,” she said.

Police investigations
COP Donkor said the police had been monitoring TikTok accounts operating under the name Ghana Jollof for some time because of videos allegedly containing false information as well as offensive and inciting comments with the potential to cause fear and alarm.

“Over a period of time, Barbara Asantewaa Kodua has used her social media platform to produce and publish videos containing offensive and inciting statements with the potential to provoke violence,” COP Donkor said.

She said police investigations had identified Ms Kodua, who is believed to be based in the United Kingdom, as the person behind the accounts.

Among the content being investigated is a video in which Ms Kodua allegedly claimed that a near coup d'etat had occurred at the Jubilee House.

Police trace alleged financial links
According to COP Donkor, the investigation has also uncovered financial arrangements between Ghana Jollof and Mrs Baffoe, including money allegedly sent from the United Kingdom to the suspect in Ghana.

Mrs Baffoe is alleged to have subsequently distributed portions of the money to other people involved in circulating the videos.

The CID Director-General said investigators had also identified individuals suspected of financially supporting the online activities.

“It will interest you to know that the police also know all those, including high-profile persons within our society, who are funding them through information retrieved from her phones,” she said.

She added that forensic examination of voice recordings, audio and video files and other information retrieved from the suspect's mobile devices had generated evidence that investigators intended to present in court.

“Forensic analysis of voices and other details of thorough investigations of her abetting the various acts have been retrieved from her phone records and transcripts made of them, all of which will be tendered in evidence in court,” COP Donkor said.

Police establish alleged relationship
COP Donkor said investigators had also established a relationship between Mrs Baffoe and Ghana Jollof through an examination of the suspect's phone and its contents.

“Further investigations have proven through the examination of her phone and its contents that the two have been friends. Similarly, the police are also in possession of audio interviews admitting the relationship between the two,” she said.

The investigation, she added, had further established that Mrs Baffoe allegedly assisted Ghana Jollof by recruiting other people to redistribute the videos across different social media platforms.

Mrs Baffoe was arrested last Thursday in a joint operation involving the National Signal Bureau and the Ghana Police Service.

She was subsequently arraigned on a charge of abetment of crime, to wit, publication of false news, and remanded into police custody to assist with investigations. She is expected to return to court on September 30 this year.

COP Donkor said investigations were continuing, with police working to identify and locate other people allegedly involved in redistributing the videos, as well as those suspected of financing the activities.

She cautioned members of the public against online activities that violate Ghana's laws.

“Any acts, conduct and publications that are contrary to provisions of the Electronic Transactions Act 2008, Act 772 and the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960, Act 29 become criminal offences and will be treated as such,” she said.

COP Donkor urged the public to exercise restraint and responsibility in their online engagements to promote safer digital spaces.

“I therefore wish to entreat all of us to be guided in our public discourse, especially in our online engagement to ensure safe online spaces for all,” she said.

She assured the public that the Ghana Police Service would continue to work with relevant stakeholders and members of the public to protect security, law and order both within communities and across online platforms.