Two women accused of making offensive statements about President John Dramani Mahama following the August 6 helicopter crash have been remanded by the Adenta Circuit Court for further investigation.
Priscilla Duah Birago, 29, a National Service Person, and Charity Dede Tetteh, 29, a beautician, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically offensive conduct and conduct likely to breach the peace. The alleged comments, made during a live TikTok discussion, included threats and derogatory remarks directed at the President.
Presiding Judge Mrs. Angela Attachie remanded the accused for two more days, with the next court appearance scheduled for September 4, 2025.
The case highlights growing concerns over the use of social media in spreading harmful or offensive content. According to the prosecution, Charity Tetteh disseminated the offensive statements on her TikTok account, “Abena Birago,” which was live-streamed to a wide audience. Forensic captures of the livestream have been obtained as evidence.
Defence counsel Samuel Kwesi Agyei requested bail for the women, arguing that they had spent sufficient time in custody and would not interfere with investigations, as their mobile phones were already seized by the police. Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyo opposed the bail request, citing ongoing investigations and an application to the High Court to extract video evidence from the devices.
The remand underscores the judiciary’s role in balancing freedom of expression with public order and accountability on digital platforms, signaling that social media users may face legal consequences for statements deemed offensive or threatening.
