Senior Nursing Officer and mother of three, Salomey Awiti Baffoe, has returned to her family after securing GH¢100,000 bail in connection with the ongoing case involving Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, popularly known as Ghana Jollof.
The 40 year old nurse from Techiman was arrested at her residence in Hansua, near Techiman, in September and was subsequently charged with abetment of crime, namely the publication of false news.
She has denied the allegation and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following her release, Salomey was reunited with her family, bringing considerable relief to relatives who had been deeply worried about her whereabouts and wellbeing during her period in custody.
Her uncle, Kojo Asiedu, said although she appeared to be in relatively good condition following her release, the family remained concerned about her health and intended to arrange a medical examination by specialists.
Mr Asiedu said Salomey was appreciative of the support she had received and would speak publicly at an appropriate time to express her gratitude.
He described her return as an overwhelmingly emotional moment for the family, particularly her children, who had been separated from their mother for some time.
According to him, the children reacted with considerable emotion when they finally saw their mother again, while Salomey’s mother had also been so distressed by her daughter’s absence that she had stopped eating.
Mr Asiedu said the family’s relief was therefore immense following Salomey’s release from Police custody.
He also expressed appreciation to the media for their role in helping the family establish where Salomey was being held and for continuing to follow developments surrounding her case.
He disclosed that the family had initially feared that she might have been abducted, particularly because of the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and subsequent arrest.
According to him, relatives initially suspected that armed robbers might have taken her away, leaving the family in considerable fear until media investigations helped establish that she was in Police custody.
Mr Asiedu subsequently appealed to the government to ensure that security agencies follow proper procedures when arresting suspects, arguing that the circumstances surrounding Salomey’s arrest had caused unnecessary anxiety.
He further warned that irregular arrest procedures could potentially create opportunities for criminals to impersonate security officers and exploit unsuspecting members of the public.
The family, he said, would continue to monitor Salomey’s condition and arrange the necessary medical assessment.
The case against Salomey is linked to allegations concerning her relationship with Ghana Jollof. Police allege that she acted as a liaison and helped recruit individuals to redistribute videos produced by Ms Kodua on various social media platforms.
Those allegations have not yet been established before the court, and Salomey remains entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence until the case is determined.
