The Kotobabi Circuit Court has granted bail to two men believed to be bloggers arrested over the alleged publication of false news involving President John Dramani Mahama.

The two, Issaka Yahaya, popularly known as Nsem Fie TV, and Godfred Ansu Damoah, were each granted bail in the sum of GH¢30,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be a public servant earning not less than GH¢5,000.

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The pair were arrested separately after allegedly reposting a video in which President Mahama and the National Security Coordinator were heard mentioning "GH¢150 million" during a conversation.

Issaka was arrested at Sefwi Dabiso in the Western North Region and transported to Accra, while Damoah was arrested in Obuasi before being taken to Kumasi and later transferred to Accra.

Speaking after the court proceedings on August 3, 2026, lawyer Enoch Afoakwa said the prosecution had asked the court to remand his clients, but the request was rejected.

"Our brother Issaka and Godfred Damoah were arraigned before the Kotobabi District Court on three counts. Issaka was charged with one count, then Godfred with two counts. The prosecution was praying that they be remanded into police custody, but we made a prayer for bail, and our prayer for bail found favour in the eyes of the judge.

"So they have been granted bail in the sum of GH¢30,000 with two sureties, one of whom should be a public servant, earning not less than GH¢5,000, so we are grateful to the court and grateful to the law enforcement agencies for cooperating. And the sureties will be at their offices to execute the bail so that their liberties will be restored," he said.

Afoakwa disclosed that his clients are facing charges of publication of false news and conspiracy to publish false news after reposting a video of the president.

"The charges were publication of false news and conspiracy to publish false news, so these are misdemeanors, and we believe that the state should really look at the matter very well because there are viral publications with regard to that [video]," he stated.

He further argued that the government had clarified the contents of the viral video rather than denying it, questioning why his clients were arrested and charged for sharing a video whose authenticity had not been disputed.

"The Minister for Government Communications has not come to deny the alleged video, but he had put clarification that the GH¢150 million is not a bribe, but to support the flood mitigation measures and those kinds of things.

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"So why do you charge persons who were asking legitimate questions, as far as their social accountability is concerned, before the courts? So we believe that the Attorney General should really look at some of these things because it is not healthy for a democracy that free speech should not be couched with arrests, detentions, and manhandling," he added.

Meanwhile, videos sighted by GhanaWeb showed the two men in handcuffs and leaving the court premises under police escort.

Watch the videos below:

Issaka Yahaya, alias Nsem Fie TV, and Godfred Ansu Damoah have been granted bail by the Kotobabi Circuit Court.
Each was granted bail of GH₵30,000 with 2 sureties, one of whom must be a public servant earning not less than GH₵5,000.
Their alleged offense was reposting a… pic.twitter.com/YEUHj2B6lQ

— DEK360Ghana🇬🇭 (@Dek360Ghana) August 3, 2026