The Ghana Police Service says it has identified individuals, including high-profile persons, who allegedly financed the online activities of TikTok account operator Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, popularly known as “Ghana Jollof.”
Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), COP Ms Lydia Yaako Donkor, disclosed this on Friday, September 18, 2026, during a press briefing at the CID Headquarters in Accra.
According to COP Ms Donkor, the disclosure forms part of ongoing investigations into alleged publication of false news, inciteful comments and offensive conduct involving Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, who is believed to be domiciled in the United Kingdom.
She said police intelligence had established that the TikTok account “Ghana Jollof” had, over time, been used to publish what investigators consider offensive and inciteful comments and false information likely to cause fear and alarm.
COP Ms Donkor said one of the videos under investigation contained a claim by Barbara Asantewaa Kodua that there had been a near coup d’état at Jubilee House.
She explained that investigations subsequently identified Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a nurse residing in Techiman, as an alleged accomplice who assisted in disseminating videos produced by Kodua.
“Investigation identified Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a nurse residing at Techiman, as an individual aiding and abetting Barbara Asantewaa Kodua @ Ghana Jollof,” COP Ms Donkor said.
She said investigations had established that Bafoh recruited other persons to redistribute and circulate the videos across various social media platforms.
The CID Director-General further said forensic examination of audio and video files retrieved from mobile devices, together with mobile money transaction records, had revealed that some highly influential persons had transferred significant sums of money to Bafoh.
According to COP Ms Donkor, Bafoh allegedly shared portions of the money with Barbara Asantewaa Kodua.
She added that police had also identified other individuals, including high-profile persons in society, whom investigators believe were involved in financing the activities.
COP Ms Donkor said information retrieved from Bafoh’s phones, including forensic analysis of voices and other evidence, had helped investigators establish details of the alleged activities.
She said transcripts of the evidence retrieved from the devices would be tendered before the court.
The CID Director-General also disclosed that investigations had uncovered financial arrangements between Kodua and Bafoh, under which Kodua allegedly remitted money from the United Kingdom to Bafoh in Ghana.
COP Ms Donkor said Bafoh subsequently distributed portions of the funds to other persons allegedly involved in redistributing and recirculating Kodua’s videos through various social media platforms.
She said investigations had also established that some persons had consistently sponsored Kodua’s online activities financially.
Bafoh was arrested on September 17, 2026, through what COP Ms Donkor described as collaborative efforts between the National Signals Bureau and the Ghana Police Service.
She said Bafoh was subsequently put before the court on a charge of abetment of crime, to wit, publication of false news.
According to COP Ms Donkor, the court remanded Bafoh into police custody to assist with investigations, with the case adjourned to September 30, 2026.
She said investigations were continuing to identify and locate other persons allegedly involved in the redistribution of the videos as well as those suspected of secretly financing the activities.
COP Ms Donkor cautioned the public to exercise restraint in their online activities, stressing that conduct and publications contrary to the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772), and the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), could constitute criminal offences.
She urged the public to be guided in their public discourse, particularly on social media, to help maintain safe online spaces.
COP Ms Donkor assured the public that the Ghana Police Service would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and the public to maintain security, law and order both in communities and online.
She said the press briefing was also intended to demonstrate the Police Service’s commitment to transparency and accountability by keeping the public informed about cases under investigation.
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