“96-Hour Limit Breached: Nhyiaeso TikTokers Remanded”

An Accra Circuit Court has remanded two young women from the Nhyiaeso Constituency in the Ashanti Region into police custody over alleged derogatory comments made against former President John Dramani Mahama.

According to a report by asaaseradio.com, the women, identified as Priscilla and Charity and both in their 20s, were arrested by operatives of the National Security on Friday, August 15, 2025, and transported to Accra.

The arrest followed a live TikTok video in which the two allegedly made disparaging remarks about the former president. They were initially held in custody for several days before being transferred to the Cantonments Police Station in Accra.

When the case was called on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the prosecution prayed the court to extend their detention, citing ongoing investigations.

Counsel for the accused, Lawyer Enoch Afoakwah, however, opposed the request, describing the detention as unlawful since his clients had already spent over 96 hours in custody before being presented in court.

The case has since been adjourned as investigations continue.

“Our clients’ detention beyond the 48-hour constitutional limit is unlawful. Yet the court has given its blessings to this without taking their pleas or considering their health conditions,” the report quoted the defence lawyer.

The court, however, granted the prosecution’s request for further detention, noting that additional investigations remain necessary.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Stephen Amoah, has condemned the action, noting that the treatment being meted out to his constituents is unacceptable and a threat to the rule of law.

“I detest unsavoury social media comments, and I am for punitive actions for such. But to abduct young girls, move them across regions, and keep them in custody for days as if they had committed a coup, that is unacceptable,” he said.

The MP stated that the women had already apologised for their remarks and that how they are being detained amounts to torture.

He called on the Christian Council, the National Peace Council, the National Chief Imam and relevant Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to intervene in the matter, which he noted was a misdemeanour and not a major criminal offence.

“This is not the rule of law we envisaged,” he said.

The case of the two women follows a similar arrest of two activists from the opposition New Patriotic Party, Fante Comedy and Akosua Jollof.

The two were arrested following a controversial TikTok livestream after the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash, which claimed the lives of eight government officials, including two cabinet ministers and three crew members.

The viral livestream featured individuals who made mocking comments and wished that the victims were specific government officials, including the president, instead.

Other participants are alleged to have made threats against the president.

Fante Comedy and Akosua Jollof, who were arrested by the police to assist in their investigation, have since been granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court.