Tiktoker Camilla Alhassan jailed one year for false claims against President Mahama

The Accra Circuit Court has sentenced TikToker Camilla Alhassan to one year in prison after she pleaded guilty to charges of offensive conduct and publication of false news. The sentence was handed down on Thursday, July 16, 2026, following her admission to publishing videos containing unsubstantiated allegations against President John Dramani Mahama.

The Charges

The prosecution told the court that Alhassan published several videos on social media containing false and offensive allegations against the President. The most prominent claim was that President Mahama had buried 32 cows as part of ritual activities to secure victory in the 2024 general elections. She further alleged that a government initiative to distribute sanitary pads to flood victims was a deliberate attempt to conceal those purported sacrifices.

Court documents also outlined a series of other allegations she made online, including claims that President Mahama had committed sexual offences, fathered a child as a result of excessive alcohol consumption, and was responsible for the deaths of former Presidents John Evans Atta Mills and Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur. Prosecutors said the allegations were published without evidence and were capable of causing harm to the reputations of the individuals involved.

Court Proceedings

Alhassan was arrested on Friday, July 10, 2026, and appeared before the Accra Circuit Court on the same day, where she entered a guilty plea on both charges. The court postponed sentencing to allow for a pregnancy test to be conducted before delivering its final judgment.

Speaking after the ruling, her lawyer, Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, explained that the court struck out the charge of electronic abuse, holding that it did not have the legal authority to determine that offence. However, the court convicted Alhassan on the count of offensive conduct and imposed a custodial sentence.

Deterrent Sentence

According to her lawyer, the defence appealed for a lighter punishment, but the court indicated that the growing prevalence of such offences required a sentence that would discourage similar conduct. The judge noted that the increasing number of similar cases involving the misuse of digital platforms warranted a punishment that would serve as a deterrent.

The widely circulated videos led to her arrest and prosecution by the Ghana Police Service.

Wider Context

The case has drawn significant public attention and reignited discussions about responsible use of social media, misinformation, and the legal consequences of publishing defamatory or false content online. It comes amid growing concerns over the spread of unverified information on social media platforms and the impact of false publications on public discourse.

The sentencing has sparked a lively debate online, with many Ghanaians weighing in on the consequences of spreading unverified claims on digital platforms.

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