New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has condemned the arrest and remand of Techiman-based nurse and mother of three, Salomey Bafor Awiti, over allegations of abetting the publication of false news.

In a statement, Dr Bawumia described as worrying reports that the nurse, who has a 4-year-old child, was picked up in the middle of the night by national intelligence officers and remanded for two weeks.

“This is not the Ghana we want to build. I can assure Ghanaians that when given the opportunity, our intelligence agencies will not be reduced to chasing citizens for insulting the President or anyone else,” he said.

Dr Bawumia said while he has always disavowed politics of insults and will continue to remind political actors to be decorous, criminalizing speech pushes democracy backwards.

“The ideas we need to transform our nation won’t come from insults. But I also remind the NDC government that any infringement on the right to free speech pushes our democracy backwards. Free speech, as unpalatable as it may be sometimes, is the foundation of our democracy,” he stated.

He also accused government of selectively applying the law, where some citizens insult and walk free while others are jailed because government does not like the target of their insults.

He called for the release of Salomey Bafor Awiti and others who have been similarly charged and jailed.

“God bless our homeland Ghana and help us to resist oppressors rule!,” he concluded.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly posing as a soldier and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public at Ashaiman.

The suspect, identified as Bright Atsu Kudiabor, was arrested by the Ashaiman Police on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m.

According to the Police, he was arrested at an area known as “I Shall Return”, where he was allegedly parading himself as a soldier and demanding money from people.

The Police said Kudiabor, who is an ex-convict, was initially arrested by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service in Ashaiman with assistance from other members of the public.

A search conducted on him after he was handed over to the Police reportedly led to the recovery of a set of military camouflage uniform.

The suspect is currently in Police custody and assisting with investigations.

The Tema Regional Police Command said he would be processed for court after investigations are completed.

The Police urged the public to remain vigilant and report anyone who falsely presents themselves as a soldier or a member of another security agency to deceive or extort money from the public.

By: Jacob Aggrey