A 43-year-old Ghanaian TikToker, Camilla Alhassan, has been sentenced to one year in prison by an Accra Circuit Court for publishing false information about President John Mahama . Alhassan, who has over 70,000 followers, pleaded guilty to charges of offensive conduct and publication of false news .
The court heard that Alhassan posted a series of videos in late June and early July 2026 alleging, without evidence, that President Mahama “sacrificed 32 cows” as part of a ritual to secure victory in the 2024 general election . She also falsely claimed that a government initiative distributing sanitary pads to recent flood victims was an attempt to conceal the alleged ritual .
Her widely circulated videos prompted an investigation by the Ghana Police Service, leading to her arrest and prosecution . Prosecutors argued that Alhassan had made false and defamatory allegations against the president .
The judge rejected an appeal for a lighter punishment, ruling that a custodial sentence was necessary to discourage the growing spread of misinformation on social media . The case has reignited debate in Ghana about how to balance criminal sanctions with freedom of expression in the age of social media .
The Mahama administration has consistently warned against the dangers of false information online and has indicated it is considering legislation to tackle misinformation while preserving constitutional protections for freedom of expression . This is not the first case of its kind; in September 2025, another popular TikToker was sentenced to seven months in prison for making death threats against the president and members of parliament .