NPP Condemns Remand of Nurse Salomey Awiti Bafoh, Questions Jurisdiction of Adenta Circuit CourtNPP Condemns Remand of Nurse Salomey Awiti Bafoh, Questions Jurisdiction of Adenta Circuit Court

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the decision of the Adenta Circuit Court to remand Madam Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a principal nursing officer and mother of three, for an additional two weeks.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, September 18, 2026, and signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party said it is “deeply concerned” about the handling of the case.

According to the NPP, Madam Bafoh was reportedly arrested in Techiman and transported to Accra after being held incommunicado for several days. She had already spent about a week in custody before her court appearance.

The party noted what it described as a dramatic shift in the prosecution’s case. When Madam Bafoh was first brought before the Adenta Circuit Court presided over by Her Ladyship Angela Attachie on September 16, 2026, the prosecution reportedly linked her to the “Ghana Jollof” social media account and said she was being investigated over an alleged plot to overthrow the government.

However, the following day, the prosecution presented a different charge – abetment of publication of false news under sections 20(1) and 208 of Act 29.

“The dramatic change in the prosecution’s case raises serious questions about the basis for her continued detention,” the NPP statement said.

1. Pre-trial detention: The party argued that continued remand while investigations are still ongoing amounts to punishment before conviction, contrary to Section 96 of Act 30 which requires bail conditions to be reasonable.

2. Territorial jurisdiction: Given that Madam Bafoh resides in Techiman, the prosecution must demonstrate what specific act constituting the alleged abetment occurred within the jurisdiction of the Adenta Court.

3. Pattern of politically sensitive cases: The party said it is disturbed by what it calls an emerging pattern of cases involving social media commentators and critics of government being brought before the same Adenta Court.

While stating that it respects the constitutional independence of the Judiciary, the NPP questioned whether the Adenta Circuit Court is being used by the prosecution “in concert with the Chief Justice, His Lordship Baffoe Bonnie, to advance what the Chief Justice himself has reportedly described as the agenda of the ‘old man’, a reference to President John Mahama.”

1. Immediate review of Madam Bafoh’s continued detention and her admission to reasonable bail;

2. That the prosecution clearly establishes the legal and territorial basis for the charge before the Adenta Circuit Court;

3. Full respect for her constitutional rights, including personal liberty, presumption of innocence and fair trial;

4. That the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council take note of growing concerns surrounding politically sensitive cases before the Adenta Circuit Court; and

5. That government and security agencies desist from using the criminal justice system to intimidate or silence critics.

“The NPP will continue to defend the constitutional rights and freedoms of every Ghanaian, irrespective of political affiliation. Ghana’s democracy cannot be sustained if the machinery of justice is perceived as an instrument for punishing dissent,” the statement concluded.

The Adenta Circuit Court, the Office of the Attorney-General, and the Judicial Service are yet to publicly respond to the issues raised.