Salomey Awiti Baffoe: Faces False News Charge in Ghana

• Salomey Awiti Baffoe, a 40-year-old Techiman nurse, has been charged with abetment of crime and circulating false news in Ghana.
• She is accused of helping to distribute videos from the 'Ghana Jollof' TikTok account and allegedly received funds for these activities.
• Ms Baffoe was arrested at her home on September 13 and has pleaded not guilty before the Adentan Circuit Court.
• The 'Ghana Jollof' operator claims the arrest is 'purely political persecution,' citing Ms Baffoe's husband's political ties and questioning the equal application of law.
• The case highlights the broad application of Ghana's false news and abetment laws to social media activity, even for indirect involvement.

This case underscores the extensive reach of Ghana's false news and abetment laws, particularly as they apply to social media activities, even for individuals perceived to be indirectly involved.

Salomey Awiti Baffoe, a 40-year-old senior nursing officer from Techiman and a mother of three, has been arrested and brought before the Adentan Circuit Court in Accra. Ms Baffoe was taken into custody at her home in Hansua, near Techiman, on September 13. She is accused by police of assisting in the circulation of videos allegedly created by the UK-based operator of the “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account.

Ms Baffoe faces charges of abetment of crime, specifically relating to the alleged publication and circulation of false news. These charges fall under Sections 20(1) and 208 of Ghana's Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). During her court appearance, Ms Baffoe entered a plea of not guilty to the accusations leveled against her.

The prosecution's case against Ms Baffoe centers on allegations that she acted as a liaison for the “Ghana Jollof” account. Police claim she was instrumental in recruiting other individuals to redistribute videos produced by the account's operator. Furthermore, it is alleged that the “Ghana Jollof” operator transferred funds to Ms Baffoe to support these activities, with portions of this money purportedly distributed to others involved in circulating the content.

It is important to note that these allegations are currently before the court and have not yet been established as fact. Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, widely known as ‘Ghana Jollof’, has vehemently rejected these claims, asserting that Ms Baffoe has been wrongly targeted by authorities.

Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, the operator of the “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account, has characterized Ms Baffoe's arrest and subsequent prosecution as “purely political persecution.” Ms Kodua insists that the actions against the Techiman nurse are politically motivated, questioning the equal application of the law across Ghana’s political spectrum. She highlighted comments attributed to social commentator Kevin Taylor, suggesting that similar statements, which she described as akin to a coup, did not attract the attention of security agencies, unlike the current charges against Ms Baffoe.

Ms Kodua further alleged that Ms Baffoe is being targeted due to her husband’s political affiliations, identifying him as an NPP Deputy Communication Director for the Chicago branch in the United States. She stated that Ms Baffoe herself is not a politician and is not actively engaged on social media platforms like Facebook, nor does she typically share videos. Ms Kodua challenged the police to provide evidence that Ms Baffoe shared her videos, suggesting that authorities lack a substantive charge and are attempting to force one.

This case underscores the extensive reach of Ghana's false news and abetment laws, particularly as they apply to social media activities, even for individuals perceived to be indirectly involved. The allegations against Ms Baffoe, which include acting as a liaison and facilitating the distribution of content, highlight the heightened risks associated with circulating politically sensitive material online.

The claims of political motivation surrounding Ms Baffoe's prosecution add a significant layer of concern for individuals engaging with online content. The situation suggests that even those not directly creating or widely sharing content, but rather facilitating its spread, could face serious legal repercussions under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, especially when political undertones are alleged.

This case highlights the broad application of Ghana's false news and abetment laws to social media activity, even for individuals perceived as indirectly involved. Lawyers should advise clients on the heightened risks associated with circulating politically sensitive content online, particularly given the allegations of political motivation in this prosecution.

Source: Original reporting via Carbonatix