The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly condemned the decision of the Adenta Circuit Court to remand Madam Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a principal nursing officer and mother of three, for a further two weeks.
In a press release issued on September 18, 2026 and signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party raised serious concerns about due process, jurisdiction, and what it described as an emerging pattern in the handling of politically sensitive cases.
According to the NPP, Madam Bafoh was arrested in Techiman and brought to Accra after being held incommunicado for several days. When she first appeared before the Adenta Circuit Court, presided over by Her Ladyship Angela Attachie, on September 16, 2026, the prosecution allegedly linked her to the “Ghana Jollof” social-media account and claimed she was under investigation for a plot to overthrow the government.
The following day, the prosecution changed its position and charged her with abetment of the publication of false news under sections 20(1) and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). The party said this sudden shift raises fundamental questions about the basis for her continued detention.
The NPP expressed particular worry that Madam Bafoh, who had already spent about a week in custody, was further remanded while the prosecution insisted investigations were still ongoing.
The party argued that pre-trial detention must not be used as a substitute for proper investigation or as punishment before conviction. It cited Section 96 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), which requires that bail conditions be reasonable and prohibits the withholding of bail as a form of punishment.
Questions were also raised about the territorial jurisdiction of the Adenta Circuit Court. The NPP noted that Madam Bafoh resides in Techiman and that the prosecution must demonstrate that a specific act constituting the alleged offence occurred within the court’s jurisdiction.
Beyond the individual case, the party said it was disturbed by what it sees as a pattern of politically sensitive matters involving social-media commentators and government critics being brought before the same Adenta Court under the same judge. While affirming respect for the constitutional independence of the judiciary, the NPP insisted that independence must be matched by impartiality, fairness, and strict adherence to due process.
In a pointed question, the party asked whether the Adenta Circuit Court was being used by the prosecution, allegedly in concert with Chief Justice His Lordship Baffoe Bonnie, to advance what the Chief Justice had reportedly described as the agenda of the “old man”—a reference to President John Mahama.
The NPP issued five specific demands:
- An immediate review of Madam Bafoh’s continued detention and her admission to reasonable bail;
- A clear establishment by the prosecution of the legal and territorial basis for the charge before the Adenta Court;
- Full respect for her constitutional rights, including personal liberty, the presumption of innocence, and the right to a fair trial;
- Action by the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council to address growing concerns about the handling of politically sensitive cases in the Adenta Circuit Court; and
- A call on the government and security agencies to stop using the criminal justice system to intimidate or silence critics.
The party concluded that it would continue to defend the constitutional rights and freedoms of every Ghanaian, regardless of political affiliation, stressing that Ghana’s democracy cannot be sustained if the justice system is perceived as a tool for punishing dissent.
