Advisor on Gender and Social Protection to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Akosua Manu, has appealed to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor to reconsider the approach being adopted in the search for anonymous social media commentator “Ghana Jollof”.
She warned that repeatedly arresting or harassing women based on suspicion could have the unintended effect of creating more anonymous critics rather than silencing the account at the centre of the investigation.
In a post on Thursday, September 17, 2026, Akosua Manu said the reported treatment of women linked to the investigation should concern the CID boss, particularly given the potential impact on families and children.
Her comments follow the arrest of Senior Nursing Officer Salomey Awity Baffoe, who was on Thursday remanded for two weeks by the Adenta Circuit Court over allegations that she operates the “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account.
Earlier, NPP social media activist Efya Royal was also arrested over allegations that she shared content originally published by “Ghana Jollof” and was subsequently granted GH¢20,000 police enquiry bail.
This Akosua Manu cautioned that the strategy could prove counterproductive, arguing that fear would not necessarily stop criticism of government.
“You are looking for one ‘Ghana Jollof’, continue harassing women on suspicion and you may create twenty more. That is the cobra effect. People will not suddenly stop criticising governments because they are afraid. They become angrier, more anonymous and sometimes even more vicious,” she said.
She said the recent arrests should compel the CID boss to reflect on the treatment of women and the responsibility that comes with occupying a senior position within Ghana’s security architecture appealing to COP Donkor not to allow women to become collateral damage in the effort to identify the anonymous commentator.
“Women in Ghana already fight too many battles. When one of us rises to such an enormously powerful position, we expect her presence to mean something. We expect an educated, exposed woman who understands the law to be one of the strongest voices in the room when somebody suggests bending it,” she added.
