The Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Weija Gbawe, Honourable Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has questioned the basis for the detention of Madam Salomey Awiti Baffoe, arguing that the ruling could shift public attention away from Ghana’s growing cocaine investigations.
Speaking on the High Court’s decision to deny bail, Honourable Shaib linked the development to a series of major narcotics cases that have recently placed Ghana’s security architecture under scrutiny.
The Weija MP argued that Madam Baffoe is facing a relatively minor offence and is a mother of three young children, making it difficult for him to accept the suggestion that her release would seriously compromise the investigation. He further questioned how she could interfere with evidence when her electronic devices have already been seized by investigators.
“I actually just think that this is just a facade, a way to divert attention from us speaking largely about the cocaine economy.”
Honourable Jerry Ahmed Shaib
Honourable Shaib stressed that the country’s attention should instead be on how large quantities of narcotics allegedly passed through Ghana and reached international destinations. He referenced the reported 3.9-tonne cocaine seizure in France alongside other cases involving narcotics linked to Ghana, arguing that these developments require sustained national attention.
For the Minority Chief Whip, the central issue is the wider question of how such substantial quantities of cocaine could move through the country’s systems without detection. He therefore questioned whether sufficient attention is being given to the institutions, routes and networks that facilitate the movement of narcotics.
Honourable Shaib also drew a connection between the timing of the bail ruling and the intense national debate over drug trafficking. He argued that keeping Madam Baffoe in custody could cause public discussion to centre on her case while more fundamental questions surrounding major cocaine shipments receive less attention.
The legal practitioner further challenged the suggestion that Madam Baffoe could simply delete evidence from her devices. He pointed to the existence of specialised cybercrime investigators and questioned why the accused would be considered capable of destroying evidence that is already within police custody.
Referencing President John Mahama’s recent emphasis on the rule of law, Honourable Shaib questioned whether the treatment of Madam Baffoe is consistent with the principle. He urged the authorities to focus their investigative resources on the narcotics cases while ensuring that the rights of accused persons are equally protected.
Deputy Minority Leader Appeals For Protection Of Mothers And Children
The Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Honourable Patricia Appiagyei also appealed to the country’s leadership to pay greater attention to the circumstances of women who carry primary responsibility for their children.
Honourable Appiagyei focused on the practical consequences of keeping a mother away from her children, particularly in situations where the children depend heavily on her for daily care. She argued that the case should be viewed beyond the immediate legal proceedings to consider the effect of the detention on the family.
The Asokwa MP noted that investigators have Madam Baffoe’s electronic devices, raising questions in her view about the possibility of the accused interfering with evidence. She therefore urged those handling the matter to consider the circumstances of the children alongside the demands of the investigation.
Honourable Appiagyei described the situation as particularly troubling for women who raise children without consistent support from a partner. She cautioned that decisions involving such women can have consequences that extend to children who have no involvement in the allegations before the court.
Directing her appeal to the First Lady and the Vice President, the Deputy Minority Leader urged them to take an interest in the circumstances surrounding Madam Baffoe’s detention. She argued that the plight of women who shoulder responsibility for their children deserves attention at the highest levels of national leadership.
“I would like to make a passionate appeal to our First Lady and our Vice President.”
Honourable Patricia Appiagyei
Honourable Appiagyei also highlighted the educational needs of children whose mothers are unable to remain at home to support them. She noted that children still require supervision, school attendance and other forms of parental support even when their parents are dealing with legal difficulties.
The Asokwa MP also placed the matter within the wider circumstances facing many Ghanaian families, particularly households where women are the primary caregivers. She urged decision makers to recognise the human consequences that can accompany legal proceedings involving mothers with dependent children.
Her intervention therefore shifted attention from the political debate surrounding the case to the family dimension of Salomey Awiti Baffoe’s detention. Honourable Appiagyei appealed for greater sensitivity towards women and children while the judicial process continues.
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