Police trace 'Ghana Jollof' funding to 'highly influential persons'

The Ghana Police Service says it has identified “highly influential persons” who allegedly provided financial support for the online activities of TikTok account operator Barbara Asantewaa Koduah, popularly known as ‘Ghana Jollof’.

Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Commissioner of Police Lydia Donkor, disclosed this on Friday, September 18, 2026, during a media briefing at the CID headquarters in Accra.

According to COP Donkor, investigations into alleged false news publications, inciting comments and offensive conduct have uncovered financial transactions involving individuals allegedly connected to Koduah and her associates.

“We have identified highly influential persons who have transferred significant amounts of money to Bafoe, who in turn shared portions of the funds with Koduah and others involved in the distribution of the content,” she said.

Police intelligence, she said, identified Koduah, who is believed to be domiciled in the United Kingdom, as the operator of the “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account.

COP Donkor alleged that the account had been used to publish videos containing offensive and inciting statements with the potential to provoke violence.

She cited one of the publications under investigation, which allegedly contained a false claim that there had been a near coup d’état at the Jubilee House.

“Investigations revealed that Koduah was using the platform to publish videos containing offensive and inciting statements,” COP Donkor said.

The CID boss also disclosed the arrest of Salomey Awittey Bafoe, a nurse residing in Techiman, in connection with the investigations.

Bafoe was arrested on September 17, 2026, and subsequently put before a court on a charge relating to the abetment of crime in connection with the publication of false news. She was remanded into police custody and is expected to reappear on September 30, 2026.

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According to the police, investigators identified Bafoe as an alleged aide who helped disseminate videos produced by Koduah.

COP Donkor said an examination of Bafoe’s mobile phone showed that the two suspects had been friends and that Bafoe allegedly recruited other individuals to redistribute the videos across various social media platforms.

She said forensic examinations of mobile devices, audio and video files, as well as mobile money transaction records, had revealed financial transactions linked to the activities.

The police also alleged that Koduah, while residing in the United Kingdom, remitted money to Bafoe in Ghana to support the activities.

“Portions of those funds were subsequently distributed to other individuals who were involved in the circulation of the videos,” COP Donkor noted.

She added that investigators had retrieved information from Bafoe’s phone which they believe could assist in identifying the alleged financial sponsors.

The CID said forensic analysis of voices, phone records and other evidence had also been conducted and would be presented in court as investigations progress.

Police said investigations were continuing to identify and locate other individuals who allegedly participated in the redistribution of the videos, as well as persons suspected of financially sponsoring the activities.

COP Donkor said the investigation was being conducted in collaboration with the National Signals Bureau.

She cautioned the public against online publications and conduct that violate Ghanaian law, citing the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772), and the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

“The public is urged to exercise caution in their online engagements, as publications and conduct that violate the law may attract criminal sanctions,” she said.

The police said they would continue working with relevant stakeholders to maintain law and order both offline and in digital spaces.

MRA/MA

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