The High Court has declined to grant bail to Salomey Awiti Baffoe, the 40-year-old Senior Nursing Officer accused of abetting the publication of false news in the widely followed “Ghana Jollof” TikTok case.
The court, in its ruling on Thursday, September 24, held that the cyber-related nature of the investigation created a risk of interference with witnesses if the accused were released at this stage.
The court consequently refused the bail application but directed the Republic to expedite its investigations.
The prosecution had opposed the application, arguing that investigators still needed Baffoe’s assistance as they worked to advance the case.
The State also told the court that her continued custody was necessary to assist investigators in tracing another accused person identified as “Ghana Jollof”.
Counsel for Baffoe, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, had urged the court to release his client on bail, stressing that she was presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He argued that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient grounds to justify continued detention and had relied largely on what he described as bare depositions.
Counsel further submitted that the offence charged was a misdemeanour and did not warrant the denial of bail in the circumstances.
He also rejected the prosecution’s concern that Baffoe could interfere with witnesses or the investigation if released, arguing that no evidence had been presented to substantiate that claim.
The defence further drew attention to Baffoe’s personal circumstances, particularly her responsibilities as a mother of minor children.
Counsel told the court that one of her children was due to begin Senior High School and that her continued detention was affecting the child’s enrolment.
Despite those arguments, the court found that the ongoing cyber-related investigation and the potential risk of witness interference weighed against her release at this stage.
The court therefore declined the bail application and ordered the Republic to accelerate the investigation into the matter.
