A popular Ghanaian TikTok personality known as “Bawumia Ba” has been re-arrested and brought back before an Accra court, in a case that is intensifying national debate over social media speech and alleged threats against former President John Dramani Mahama and his wife, Lordina Mahama.
Mahama Aminat, 26, was on Thursday arraigned at the Accra Circuit Court on a fresh count of offensive conduct, the Ghana Police Service has confirmed. Police say investigations are ongoing but have not yet released full details of the latest allegation.
Fresh court appearance after earlier bail
The re-arrest comes only weeks after Aminat’s first detention by the Police Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team (CVET) in Sekyere Zongo, in the Ashanti Region.
During that initial operation, officers alleged that Aminat had uploaded a series of TikTok videos containing insults aimed at former President Mahama. She was also accused of issuing threats against the former First Lady, Lordina Mahama, and allegedly urging others to attack the couple.
Following that arrest, she was charged with offensive conduct and issuing threats and was subsequently brought before the Accra Circuit Court. The court granted her bail in the sum of GH¢1 million, with two sureties, as investigations and legal proceedings continued.
Her latest appearance in the same court marks a new phase in the case, suggesting that detectives may be pursuing additional or revised charges related to her online activity.
Police tight‐lipped on new allegation
In a brief statement, the Ghana Police Service confirmed Aminat’s re-arrest on a “latest charge” of offensive conduct but declined to offer further specifics, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Authorities have not indicated whether the new allegation stems from fresh social media content, previous videos under scrutiny, or other related behaviour. No timeline has been given for when a full charge sheet or additional details will be made public.
The case remains before the Accra Circuit Court, and Aminat is expected to continue appearing as the matter progresses through the judicial system.
Social media, politics and the law
Although officials have not commented publicly on the political sensitivity of the case, the allegations centre on content directed at a former head of state and his spouse, highlighting growing tensions at the intersection of digital expression, politics and criminal law in Ghana.
Ghanaian law provides for offences related to threats and certain forms of abusive or offensive conduct, including when directed at individuals. Rights advocates and legal analysts in similar cases have often raised questions over where the line should be drawn between protected speech and criminal conduct, particularly on social platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and X.
Aminat, better known online by her handle “Bawumia Ba”, has built a following with commentary and skits that frequently reference national politics and public figures. Her arrest and re-arrest have therefore attracted attention from social media users and political observers alike, although there has been no official reaction from the Mahama family in this instance.
Case still under investigation
The Ghana Police Service has stressed that its inquiries are still in progress and that the matter remains before the court. It is not yet clear when the next hearing will take place or whether prosecutors will seek to amend or add to the existing charges.
For now, Aminat’s legal troubles continue to unfold in the public eye, serving as a high-profile test of how Ghana’s courts and law enforcement agencies navigate contentious online speech in an increasingly digital political landscape.
