The Ghana Police Service says investigations into the activities of UK-based TikToker Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, popularly known as “Ghana Jollof”, have uncovered an alleged network involved in circulating false information online.
According to the police, Barbara allegedly sent money to a woman in Ghana who helped distribute her videos and other content across social media platforms.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Friday, September 18, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the woman, identified as Salomey Awitti Baffoe, was arrested during a joint operation by the Ghana Police Service and the National Signals Bureau.
She said police investigations revealed that Baffoe recruited other individuals and paid them to repost and share videos produced by Barbara.
“Investigations have established that Salomey Awitti Baffoe assisted in the dissemination of the videos produced by Barbara Asantewaa Kodua by recruiting other persons to redistribute and circulate the material,” COP Donkor stated.
The CID boss further disclosed that a forensic examination of Baffoe’s mobile phone, including voice notes, chat messages and Mobile Money transactions, revealed evidence of financial transfers investigators believe are linked to the operation.
She added that investigators had also identified some influential individuals suspected of providing financial support for the circulation of the content.
“It will interest you to know that the Police also know all those, including high-profile persons within our society, who are funding them through information retrieved from her phones,” she said.
Baffoe has been charged with abetment of crime, specifically the publication of false news, and remanded into police custody. She is expected to reappear before the court on September 30.
Police say efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other persons believed to have played various roles in the alleged network.
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