Ghanaian TikToker Jailed One Year Over False Ritual Claims Against President Mahama
A Ghanaian court has sentenced TikToker Camilla Alhassan to one year in prison after she pleaded guilty to publishing false claims that President John Mahama sacrificed 32 cows in a ritual to secure victory in Ghana's 2024 presidential election.
Alhassan, 43, was convicted of offensive conduct and publication of false news following a series of videos posted on TikTok last month and earlier this month.
In the videos, she alleged, without presenting any evidence, that President Mahama performed ritual sacrifices to guarantee his electoral success. She also claimed that the government's distribution of sanitary pads to flood victims was intended to conceal the alleged ritual.
The court rejected her plea for a lighter sentence, ruling that a custodial punishment was necessary to discourage the growing spread of misinformation on social media platforms.
According to prosecutors, Alhassan, who has more than 70,000 followers on TikTok, published false and defamatory allegations against the president in videos that circulated widely online.
The conviction has renewed debate in Ghana over balancing efforts to tackle online misinformation with the protection of freedom of expression.
The case follows a similar incident in September 2025, when another Ghanaian TikToker, David Kwodwo Prah Afful, popularly known as Kwame Nkrumah II, was sentenced to seven months in prison after being convicted of making death threats against President Mahama and members of parliament in a viral video.
President Mahama's administration has consistently warned about the dangers posed by false information online.
Last year, the president directed security agencies to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for spreading falsehoods, hate speech and messages capable of inciting fear or public panic.
The Ghanaian government is also considering new legislation aimed at curbing the spread of misinformation while preserving constitutional protections for freedom of expression.
Alhassan, 43, was convicted of offensive conduct and publication of false news following a series of videos posted on TikTok last month and earlier this month.
In the videos, she alleged, without presenting any evidence, that President Mahama performed ritual sacrifices to guarantee his electoral success. She also claimed that the government's distribution of sanitary pads to flood victims was intended to conceal the alleged ritual.
The court rejected her plea for a lighter sentence, ruling that a custodial punishment was necessary to discourage the growing spread of misinformation on social media platforms.
According to prosecutors, Alhassan, who has more than 70,000 followers on TikTok, published false and defamatory allegations against the president in videos that circulated widely online.
The conviction has renewed debate in Ghana over balancing efforts to tackle online misinformation with the protection of freedom of expression.
The case follows a similar incident in September 2025, when another Ghanaian TikToker, David Kwodwo Prah Afful, popularly known as Kwame Nkrumah II, was sentenced to seven months in prison after being convicted of making death threats against President Mahama and members of parliament in a viral video.
President Mahama's administration has consistently warned about the dangers posed by false information online.
Last year, the president directed security agencies to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for spreading falsehoods, hate speech and messages capable of inciting fear or public panic.
The Ghanaian government is also considering new legislation aimed at curbing the spread of misinformation while preserving constitutional protections for freedom of expression.
