Ghanaian TikToker jailed for false ritual claims about President Mahama

A Ghanaian TikTok creator has been sentenced to one year in prison after admitting to publishing false information and engaging in offensive conduct through videos targeting President John Dramani Mahama.

Camilla Alhassan, 43, appeared before the Accra Circuit Court, where she pleaded guilty to charges arising from a series of TikTok videos in which she alleged, without providing evidence, that President Mahama had sacrificed 32 cows as part of rituals to secure victory in Ghana’s 2024 general election. She also claimed that a government programme distributing sanitary pads to victims of recent flooding was intended to conceal the alleged rituals.

Although Alhassan’s lawyer appealed for a more lenient sentence, the court ruled that a custodial punishment was appropriate because of the growing spread of false information on social media. The presiding judge said the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others who publish unverified allegations online.

Prosecutors argued that the TikToker, who has built a sizeable following on the platform, circulated defamatory and unfounded claims about the president that quickly gained traction across social media. The widely shared videos ultimately led to her arrest and prosecution by the Ghana Police Service.

The case has reignited debate in Ghana over how authorities should tackle misinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression. Critics of stronger regulation warn against measures that could limit legitimate political speech, while supporters argue that deliberate falsehoods can cause significant public harm if left unchecked.

This is not the first time a Ghanaian social media personality has been imprisoned over online content. In September last year, TikToker David Kwodwo Prah Afful, popularly known as Kwame Nkrumah II, received a seven-month jail sentence after being convicted of making death threats against President Mahama and members of Parliament in a viral video.

The Mahama administration has repeatedly signalled its intention to clamp down on misinformation circulating online. Last year, the president warned that authorities would pursue individuals responsible for spreading false information, hate speech and messages capable of causing fear or panic. Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George has also announced plans for legislation aimed at creating a legal framework to combat misinformation while preserving constitutional protections for free speech.

Ghana is widely regarded as one of West Africa’s strongest democracies, with a vibrant media environment and constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression. However, the rapid growth of social media has intensified concerns over the spread of false information, prompting calls for stronger regulation alongside safeguards against excessive restrictions on civil liberties.