Ghanaian TikToker jailed for false ritual claim against Mahama

A Ghanaian court has sentenced TikToker Camilla Alhassan to one year in prison after she pleaded guilty to publishing false claims that President John Mahama sacrificed 32 cows in a ritual to secure victory in the 2024 presidential election.

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

In the videos, she alleged without evidence that Mahama performed the ritual to win the election. She also claimed that the government’s distribution of sanitary pads to flood victims was intended to conceal the alleged act.

The court rejected her plea for leniency, ruling that a custodial sentence was necessary to deter the spread of misinformation on social media.

According to prosecutors, Alhassan, who has more than 70,000 followers on TikTok, made false and defamatory allegations against the president in videos that were widely circulated online.

The case has reignited debate in Ghana over balancing efforts to curb misinformation with the protection of freedom of expression.

It is the latest prosecution involving a social media influencer in the country. In September 2025, TikToker David Kwodwo Prah Afful, popularly known as Kwame Nkrumah II, was sentenced to seven months in prison after being 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, with the government considering legislation aimed at tackling misinformation while safeguarding constitutional rights to free expression.