NPP Raises Red Flags Over Remand Of Salomey Awiti Bafoh
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns over the continued remand of Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a principal nursing officer and mother of three, by the Adenta Circuit Court.
In a statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP said Madam Bafoh had been remanded for an additional two weeks after appearing before the court on September 16, 2026.
According to the party, Madam Bafoh was reportedly arrested in Techiman and brought to Accra after spending several days in custody without communication.
The NPP said that when she was first brought before the court, the prosecution reportedly alleged that she was linked to a social media account known as “Ghana Jollof” and was being investigated over an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
The party said the prosecution subsequently presented a different allegation of abetment of publication of false news under sections 20(1) and 208 of Act 29.
The NPP argued that the reported change in the allegations raised questions about the basis for Madam Bafoh’s continued detention, particularly after she had already spent about a week in custody.
The party also questioned the prosecution’s reliance on ongoing investigations as a basis for further remand, arguing that pre-trial detention should not become a substitute for investigation or punishment before conviction.
The NPP further raised questions about the territorial jurisdiction of the Adenta Circuit Court, noting that Madam Bafoh resides in Techiman.
It said the prosecution should establish the specific act allegedly constituting abetment that occurred within the jurisdiction of the Adenta Circuit Court.
The party also expressed concern over what it described as an emerging pattern involving politically sensitive cases concerning social media commentators and critics of the government being brought before the same court.
While acknowledging the constitutional independence of the Judiciary, the NPP said judicial independence must be accompanied by impartiality, fairness and adherence to due process.
The party also questioned whether the Adenta Circuit Court was being used by the prosecution in concert with the Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, to advance what it described as the “agenda of the old man”, which the NPP said was a reference to President John Mahama.
The NPP called for an immediate review of Madam Bafoh’s continued detention and her admission to reasonable bail.
It also urged the prosecution to clearly establish the legal and territorial basis for the charge before the Adenta Circuit Court.
The party called for full respect for Madam Bafoh’s constitutional rights, including personal liberty, the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial.
It further urged the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council to take note of concerns surrounding the handling of politically sensitive cases before the Adenta Circuit Court.
The NPP also called on the government and security agencies to refrain from using the criminal justice system to intimidate or silence citizens who criticise those in power.
The party said it would continue to defend the constitutional rights and freedoms of Ghanaians irrespective of political affiliation, stressing that public confidence in the justice system could be undermined if the machinery of justice were perceived as an instrument for punishing dissent.
-Overseeronline.com
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