Accra: The Media Research Institute (MRI) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to pardon TikToker Camilla Alhassan, asserting that her one-year jail term is excessively harsh.
According to Ghana Web, an Accra Circuit Court sentenced the 43-year-old to one year of imprisonment with hard labour on July 16, 2026, after she pled guilty to charges of offensive conduct and the publication of false news. These charges stemmed from a TikTok video in which Alhassan made derogatory remarks and false claims against President Mahama and First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama.
In a press statement, MRI Executive Director Dr. Daniel Nkrumah acknowledged that while Camilla's comments were "despicable," the sentence was overly severe, likening it to "killing an ant with a sledgehammer." The Institute is urging the President to use his prerogative of mercy, similar to the 2016 'Montie Three' case, where three individuals were pardoned after serving part of their sentence.
MRI further critiqued the State institutions for what it termed as selective justice. It pointed out that recent controversial comments by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and earlier remarks by Malik Basintale and Atta Akyea in 2024 did not result in arrests or prosecutions, highlighting a potential double standard in the application of justice.
"The incarceration of Camilla emphasizes the selective application of the law; justice for an unguarded woman while the powerful walk free," the MRI statement declared. The organization warned that such a sentence could set a dangerous precedent for free speech in the country.
Additionally, the MRI called on the government to allocate resources to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for better civic education and urged Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to promote respectful political communication. It also encouraged Ghanaians to practice decency on social media and appealed to political leaders to set a positive example by refraining from incendiary language.
Meanwhile, police have stated that Camilla Alhassan still faces a separate charge of 'False Communication under the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775)' at the High Court.