Camilla Alhassan Sentenced to One Year in Prison Over False Claims About President Mahama
Ghanaian TikToker Camilla Alhassan has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Accra Circuit Court after pleading guilty to charges of offensive conduct and publication of false news.
The conviction stems from a series of videos she shared on social media in which she alleged, without evidence, that President John Dramani Mahama buried 32 cows as part of rituals to secure victory in the 2024 general elections. The claims circulated widely online before leading to her arrest and prosecution.
The court handed down the sentence on Thursday, July 16, after Alhassan admitted to the charges. During the proceedings, the court struck out an additional charge of electronic abuse, ruling that it lacked the jurisdiction to determine that particular offence. However, it convicted her on the remaining counts of offensive conduct and publication of false news.
According to her lawyer, Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, the defence appealed for leniency, but the court maintained that the increasing spread of false information on social media required a sentence that would serve as a deterrent to others.
The case has attracted widespread public attention and reignited discussions about misinformation, responsible social media use, and the legal consequences of publishing unverified allegations against individuals.
Before sentencing, the court had earlier ordered that Alhassan undergo a pregnancy test as part of the judicial process. Her one-year custodial sentence now brings the high-profile case to a conclusion at the trial court, although she retains the right to appeal the conviction and sentence in accordance with Ghanaian law.
