A group of women has marched through Accra to the premises of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), demanding the immediate release of 40-year-old Salomey Awitey Baffoe.
The women, who participated in the “Women’s Voices Matter” demonstration, moved from AMA Park to the EOCO offices, chanting “Free Salomey now!” as they called for what they described as justice and fair treatment for Ms Baffoe.
Some of the protesters gave President John Dramani Mahama 24 hours to intervene, while others chanted “John Mahama, free Salomey!” and “We are tired of John!”
The demonstration became emotional at some points, with some participants in tears as they questioned the circumstances surrounding Ms Baffoe’s continued detention.
Ms Baffoe was arrested during a midnight raid at her home in Hansua in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region on September 13.
The High Court on September 24 rejected her bail application after prosecutors argued that she was still required to assist with ongoing cyber-related investigations and that her release could interfere with witnesses.
The court subsequently directed the Republic to expedite the investigations.
The protesters, however, maintained that Ms Baffoe should not remain in custody while investigations continue, and called for her case to be handled fairly and in accordance with the law.
KOKA, who joined the demonstration, said he participated because issues affecting women should concern everyone.
“I have sisters, my mum is a woman,” he said.
He also questioned the continued detention of Ms Baffoe on the grounds that investigators needed information from her phone.
“If you are telling me that you need to keep her to be able to get access to cyber information on her phone, the phone you have already taken, you don’t need her presence to do those things,” he said.
KOKA further questioned what he described as differences in the way authorities have handled and communicated about various cases.
Beyond Ms Baffoe’s case, the demonstration also highlighted broader challenges confronting women, including providing for their families, paying school fees and earning livelihoods through trading.
“The way we do things, we are putting women’s lives under,” he said.
