Ghanaian TikToker jailed for false claims against President Mahama

The 43-year-old admitted to making unsubstantiated claims in a series of TikTok videos that President John Mahama sacrificed 32 cows in a ritual to secure victory in the 2024 presidential election. She also alleged that the government's distribution of sanitary pads to flood victims was a cover-up for this act. Prosecutors stated that Alhassan, who has over 70,000 followers, made false and defamatory allegations that were widely shared.

The court denied her request for a lighter sentence, emphasizing the need to deter the spread of misinformation on social media. This case has sparked renewed debate in Ghana regarding the balance between combating misinformation and upholding freedom of expression. It follows another instance last year where TikToker David Kwodwo Prah Afful was jailed for making death threats against President Mahama and Members of Parliament.

The Mahama administration has consistently warned against the dissemination of false information online and is considering legislation to address misinformation while safeguarding constitutional free expression.