Manasseh Azure Awuni criticizes one-year sentence for TikToker Camilla Alhassah
via GhanaWeb1 min read
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has criticized the one-year prison sentence given to TikToker Camilla Alhassah for comments about President John Mahama. Awuni stated that while Alhassah's comments were "reprehensible," they were defamatory, not a criminal or jailable offense. He argued that the offense of publishing false news requires the publication to be capable of provoking fear and alarm among the public, a threshold he believes was not met in Alhassah's case. Awuni expressed disappointment in the judicial system, suggesting some judges are accepting "frivolous charges" and imposing custodial sentences. He warned that this trend is detrimental to democracy and free speech, noting that the world is observing Ghana's approach to such issues.
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President John Dramani Mahama has lauded Minister of Foreign Affairs and North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as one of his administration's top performers. Speaking during his Resetting Ghana Tour in the Volta Region on July 16, 2026, President Mahama described Ablakwa as among his hardest-working ministers, crediting him with many of Ghana鈥檚 diplomatic successes. He highlighted Ablakwa's commitment to national service and his focus on the development of the North Tongu constituency. The President attributed much of his international recognition to the Foreign Affairs Minister's efforts, citing Ghana鈥檚 successful campaign for a United Nations resolution on reparations as a prime example, noting Ablakwa personally led diplomatic engagements to secure international backing for the initiative.
Must ReadGhanaian 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 publishing false news. The ruling was delivered on July 16, 2026, following her admission that she shared videos falsely alleging that President John Dramani Mahama buried 32 cows as part of rituals for the 2024 general election. Her lawyer, Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, stated that the court dismissed the charge of electronic abuse due to lack of jurisdiction. However, she was found guilty of offensive conduct and publishing false news. The court imposed the one-year sentence, emphasizing the need for a deterrent given the increasing number of similar cases, despite the defense's plea for leniency. Camilla's arrest and prosecution followed the circulation of the videos on social media, and she was directed to undergo a pregnancy test before sentencing.
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