Dr Ayew Afriye secures police enquiry bail for Efya Royal

Effiduase-Asokore MP Dr Nana Ayew Afriye has secured police enquiry bail for NPP social media activist Efya Royal following her arrest over an alleged social media post linked to anonymous commentator “Ghana Jollof”.

Efya Royal was granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 after spending time in police custody, bringing temporary relief to her family, supporters and members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who had raised concerns about her detention.

Ayew Afriye steps in

The MP, together with NPP Director of Legal Services Gary Nimako, reportedly spent several hours at the Cantonments Police Station on Monday, working into the night to secure the activist’s release.

Their intervention followed growing public attention over Efya Royal’s arrest and uncertainty surrounding her whereabouts.

The activist had reportedly been arrested over allegations that she shared a post originally published by the TikToker known as “Ghana Jollof.” Police subsequently confirmed that she was in custody.

A case Ayew Afriye strongly opposed

The development is not entirely new for Dr Ayew Afriye.

Days before the bail was secured, the MP had criticised the decision by security authorities to involve Efya Royal in efforts to establish the identity and whereabouts of Ghana Jollof.

He described the move as “the height of absurdity”, arguing that serious intelligence operations should rely on cyber-intelligence, digital forensics and established investigative procedures.

According to the MP, Ghana Jollof had repeatedly stated that her face had never been publicly displayed, making it difficult to understand how Efya Royal could assist investigators simply through physical identification.

‘Leave Efya Royal alone’

Ayew Afriye argued that involving an activist because of perceived political or social connections could set a troubling precedent.

He urged the security agencies to conduct their own investigations and use modern digital tools rather than relying on individuals who, according to him, had no official connection to the anonymous commentator.

His intervention has now been followed by the granting of bail to Efya Royal, although the underlying police enquiry remains ongoing.

COKA also raises alarm

NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, also joined calls for the activist’s release.

COKA urged the National Signals Bureau and the Special Investigation Unit of the Ghana Police Service CID to operate professionally and avoid arresting individuals based on what he described as misconstrued or false identities.

He insisted that Ghana’s security institutions must operate with precision and within the limits of their powers.

Bail is not the end of the investigation

Although Efya Royal is now out on GH¢20,000 police enquiry bail, the development does not necessarily bring the investigation to an end.

Available reports indicate that questions remain over the circumstances of her arrest and the specific allegations being investigated. No formal charge or prosecution timeline has been publicly announced in the sources reviewed.

For now, the immediate battle has been won: Efya Royal is back out of custody, while the police enquiry continues.