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 2024 presidential election.
Alhassan, 43, was convicted of offensive conduct and publication of false news over a series of videos posted on TikTok last month and earlier this month.
In the videos, she alleged, without evidence, that President Mahama performed the ritual to ensure his election victory. 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 custodial sentence was necessary to deter the spread of misinformation on social media.
Prosecutors told the court that Alhassan, who has more than 70,000 TikTok followers, made false and defamatory allegations against the president through videos that were widely circulated online.
The conviction has renewed debate in Ghana over balancing the fight against misinformation with the protection of freedom of expression.
The case follows another high-profile prosecution involving a social media influencer.
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 President Mahama and members of parliament in a viral video.
The Mahama administration has repeatedly warned against the spread of false information online.
The government is also considering legislation aimed at tackling misinformation while preserving constitutional protections for freedom of expression.
