The Accra Circuit Court has sentenced Ghanaian TikToker Camilla Alhassan to one year in prison after she pleaded guilty to charges of publishing false news and engaging in offensive conduct. The case stemmed from videos circulated on social media in which Alhassan falsely alleged that President John Dramani Mahama buried 32 cows as part of rituals to secure victory in the 2024 general election.
Arrest and Prosecution
The Ghana Police Service arrested Alhassan following the widespread dissemination of the defamatory videos. She was subsequently prosecuted at the Accra Circuit Court. During an earlier hearing, the court ordered a pregnancy test before proceeding with the case.
Court Proceedings and Guilty Plea
Camilla Alhassan admitted to publishing the videos in which she falsely claimed, without providing any evidence, that President Mahama buried 32 cows as part of rituals to win the election. Her lawyer, Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, confirmed that the court dismissed the charge of electronic abuse after ruling it lacked jurisdiction to determine that offence.
Sentence and Deterrence
The court found Alhassan guilty of offensive conduct and sentenced her to one year in prison. According to her lawyer, the defence pleaded for a more lenient sentence, but the court held that the increasing incidence of similar offences warranted a custodial punishment to serve as a deterrent to others.
According to Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, the court emphasized the need to curb the spread of false information, stating that a custodial sentence was necessary to discourage others from engaging in similar conduct.
