Pardon Camila Alhassan, NGO appeals to President Mahama

A Ghanaian non-governmental organization has called for a presidential pardon for a TikToker sentenced to one year in prison for publishing false news about President John Dramani Mahama.

The Media Research Institute (MRi), which focuses on media research and advocacy, described the sentence for Camila Alhassan as "tantamount to killing an ant with a sledgehammer." While acknowledging Alhassan's guilty plea and the "despicable" nature of her comments, MRi found the jail term "alarming and unduly harsh."

The institute highlighted a perceived double standard in the application of law, noting that politicians who criticize the judiciary and senior officials often face no prosecution. "It is becoming alluring for law enforcers to apply two sets of laws: one that clears and cleans the powerful and another that drags the poor in the mud for walking on the very paths these politicians have carved," MRi stated.

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While the comments and actions of Camila are despicable by all standards, the one-year jail term is tantamount to killing an ant with a sledgehammer.

MRi argued that Alhassan's case exemplifies selective justice, particularly against the vulnerable, and contributes to the erosion of free speech, which is increasingly becoming a right reserved for the powerful. The organization warned that the sentence sets a dangerous precedent and undermines democracy, which relies on the votes and resilience of ordinary people.

While advocating for greater decency in political discourse on all media platforms, MRi cautioned against extreme or heavy-handed measures. The institute suggested empowering the National Commission for Civic Education to conduct effective civic education on proper political conduct.

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It is becoming alluring for law enforcers to apply two sets of laws: one that clears and cleans the powerful and another that drags the poor in the mud for walking on the very paths these politicians have carved.