NPP Techiman South: Salomey Awiti Baffoe Detention Ghana Bail Demands

• Senior nursing officer Salomey Awiti Baffoe was arrested on September 13 and remanded by the Adentan Circuit Court until September 30 on allegations of publishing and circulating false news.
• Her family struggled to determine her whereabouts and the reason for her arrest, with conflicting accounts surrounding the circumstances of her detention.
• The NPP Techiman South Constituency has strongly condemned the detention, demanding her immediate release or reasonable bail, citing concerns over abuse of state power and constitutional rights.
• NPP leaders, including Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, have joined calls for her release, framing the case as a critical test for Ghana's democracy and the limits of state authority.
• The party emphasizes that remand is not punishment and an allegation is not proof, questioning the proportionality and fairness of her continued detention.

The continued detention of a working mother, without a demonstrated necessity for her to remain in custody, raises significant questions about proportionality, fairness, and the government's adherence to due process.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Techiman South Constituency has vehemently condemned the arrest and ongoing remand of Madam Salomey Awiti Baffoe, a senior nursing officer and mother of three, calling for her immediate release or the provision of reasonable bail. This strong stance was articulated during a press briefing held at the Techiman South Constituency Office, where Communications Officer Mohammad Mukarram Abdallah addressed a large gathering of party loyalists. The attendees, clad in red bands, chanted for the nurse's freedom, reflecting the deep concern within the constituency regarding what they perceive as a troubling abuse of state power.

Madam Salomey was reportedly taken from her residence in Hansua, near Techiman, late on the night of September 13. Her family faced significant challenges for several days in ascertaining her whereabouts and the precise reasons behind her arrest. Compounding the tension, conflicting reports have emerged concerning the exact date and circumstances of her detention. Police allegations suggest Madam Salomey was involved in the publication and circulation of false news, and further claim she assisted in redistributing content linked to the "Ghana Jollof" account. She has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

Despite an application for bail submitted by her legal representatives, the Adentan Circuit Court ordered her remand into police custody until September 30, allowing investigations to continue. The decision to transfer her to the Adentan Circuit Court, a considerable distance from her home constituency, has been characterized by the NPP as deeply questionable. This case, involving the Salomey Awiti Baffoe detention Ghana bail situation, has quickly become a focal point for discussions on due process.

Key figures within the NPP delivered impassioned appeals during the press conference. Women's Organizer Nana Akosua Sakyiwaa questioned the rationale behind "snatching away a mother of three from her children for days without proper charges." Lawyer Amadu Berma Sulemana raised critical inquiries regarding the arrest procedure and the specific charges detailed on the charge sheet. The NPP Communications Directorate has joined calls from prominent party leaders, including Flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Member of Parliament for Techiman South, Hon. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, for Madam Salomey's prompt release.

Mohammad Mukarram Abdallah underscored the broader implications of the case, stating that it transcends the individual circumstances of one nurse. He emphasized that the matter now concerns the protection of constitutional rights, the defined limits of state power, and the future trajectory of democracy in Ghana. The NPP Techiman South demands release of Madam Salomey, highlighting the Adentan Circuit Court remand Ghana decision as problematic. The constituency directorate has formally issued nine specific questions, demanding answers from the government regarding the incident, further intensifying the political scrutiny surrounding the Salomey Awiti Baffoe false news charge.

The NPP Communications Officer framed Madam Salomey's case as a stark warning to all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations. He cautioned that while it is Madam Salomey today, tomorrow it could be any individual—a journalist, nurse, teacher, trader, student, religious leader, or ordinary citizen—who expresses an opinion deemed uncomfortable by those in power. The party explicitly rejected any insinuation that it endorses violence, incitement, or the deliberate dissemination of false information.

However, the NPP equally denounced what it described as the abuse of state power Ghana, selective enforcement, intimidation, and the deployment of security agencies to silence citizens. The party clarified that its advocacy is not for special treatment for Madam Salomey, but rather for her to receive equal treatment under the law. They asserted that remand is not a form of punishment, arrest does not equate to conviction, and an allegation is not proof. The continued detention of a working mother, without a demonstrated necessity for her to remain in custody, raises significant questions about proportionality, fairness, and the government's adherence to due process.

This case offers a live example of challenges to due process, proportionality in detention, and the application of 'false news' charges in Ghana. Lawyers should monitor its progression for precedents regarding bail applications, the limits of state power in arrests, and the protection of constitutional rights, particularly concerning freedom of expression and fair trial procedures.

Source: Original reporting via Anass Sabit