Ghanaian TikToker jailed for claiming President Mahama sacrificed 32 cows

A Ghanaian court has sentenced TikToker Camilla Alhassan to one year in prison after she admitted to publishing false claims that President John Mahama sacrificed 32 cows in a ritual to secure victory in the country’s 2024 presidential election, BBC reports on Friday.

Alhassan, 43, was convicted of offensive conduct and publication of false news over a series of videos she posted on TikTok last month and earlier this month.

In the videos, she alleged, without evidence, that the president carried out the ritual to help him win the election.

She also claimed that the government’s distribution of sanitary pads to flood victims was intended to cover up the alleged act.

The court rejected her plea for a lighter sentence, ruling that a prison term was necessary to discourage the growing spread of misinformation on social media.

BBC reports that prosecutors told the court that Alhassan, who has more than 70,000 followers on TikTok, made false and defamatory allegations against the president through videos that were widely shared online.

Her conviction has reignited debate in Ghana over the challenge of tackling misinformation while protecting freedom of expression.

The case is the latest involving a social media influencer in the West African country.

In September last year, TikToker David Kwodwo Prah Afful, popularly known as Kwame Nkrumah II, was jailed for seven months after he was convicted of making death threats against Mahama and members of parliament in a viral video.

The Mahama administration has repeatedly warned against the spread of false information online.

Last year, the president said authorities would track down and prosecute individuals responsible for spreading falsehoods, hate speech and messages capable of causing fear and panic.

The government is also considering legislation aimed at tackling misinformation while preserving constitutional protections for freedom of expression.