A Ghanaian court has sentenced TikToker Camilla Alhassan to one year in prison after she admitted to publishing false claims that President John Dramani Mahama buried 32 cows as part of rituals to secure victory in the 2024 presidential election. The Accra Circuit Court convicted her on charges of publishing false news and offensive conduct.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to the prosecutors, Alhassan posted a series of videos on TikTok alleging, without evidence, that Mahama performed ritual sacrifices before the election. She also claimed that the government’s distribution of sanitary pads to flood victims was intended to conceal the alleged act. The videos were widely circulated on social media before her arrest.
The court rejected her plea for leniency and ruled that a custodial sentence was necessary to discourage the growing spread of misinformation online. However, it struck out a separate charge of electronic abuse, holding that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the offence.
The conviction has sparked debate in Ghana over the balance between tackling misinformation and protecting freedom of expression. While some have welcomed the ruling as a deterrent against the spread of false information, others, including Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), criticised the sentence, arguing that it raises concerns about free speech.
