NPP Flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has assured Ghanaians that, if given the opportunity to govern, the country’s intelligence agencies will not be used to pursue citizens for insulting the President or other individuals.
His comments follow the arrest and two-week remand of Techiman-based nurse Salomey Bafoh Awiti over an alleged connection to the publication and circulation of false news on social media.
Ms Bafoh, a mother of three, was arrested at her home in Hansua, near Techiman, on September 13. She was subsequently brought before the Adentan Circuit Court, where she pleaded not guilty to a charge of abetment of crime, to wit, publication of false news. The court remanded her for two weeks, with the case adjourned to September 30.
The prosecution alleges that she assisted UK-based Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, identified as the person behind the “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account, to disseminate videos by recruiting others to redistribute the content.
Reacting to the case, Dr Bawumia said he did not support insults in political discourse and called on political actors to be decorous.
“I can assure Ghanaians that when given the opportunity, our intelligence agencies will not be reduced to chasing citizens for insulting the President or anyone else,” he said.