Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, has begged President John Dramani Mahama to grant a presidential pardon to Camila Alhassan, a TikToker currently serving a jail term over her social media activities.
According to Afeny-Markin, Camila Alhassan’s imprisonment should not become an example of how political authorities deal with criticism.
Speaking at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards on November 7, 2026, Afenyo-Markin stated, “I therefore appeal to His Excellency the President to consider pardoning Camila Alhassan, who is in jail because she engaged in social media acts. We must not allow fear and panic to become the new language of political control. We must not allow prosecution of speech to become normalised”.
“Our caucus is concerned about the growing use of the so-called fear and panic provisions in Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act to prosecute citizens and journalists for what they say or publish,” he stated.
He further raised concerns about the use of Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act to prosecute citizens and journalists, saying, “Liberal advocates have warned that Section 208 has become a tool for suppressing free expression and dissent. Our caucus takes the view that Section 208 has no place in Ghana’s democracy. Its use to prosecute citizens and journalists for what they say or publish is fundamentally at odds with the freedoms of speech and of the press that are constitutional guarantees”.
“The Minority will continue to defend the right of every Ghanaian to speak, question, criticise, publish, and disagree. We will defend the journalists and the citizens. We will defend the professor and the market woman.
“We will defend the pastor and the imam. We will defend the TikToker and the traditional ruler. We will defend the government and even the critic of the Minority because freedom of speech belongs not to one party, one profession, or one class of people. It belongs to all of us as Ghanaians,” he added.
Afenyo-Markin further added, “Let us choose responsibility without repression. Let us choose truth without tyranny. Let us choose accountability without intimidation. Let us choose a Ghana where no citizen is afraid to speak”.
It will be recalled that TikToker Camilla Alhassan was sentenced after pleading guilty to offensive conduct and publishing false news over videos alleging, without evidence, that President John Dramani Mahama buried 32 cows to win the 2024 elections.
TikToker Camilla Alhassan was arrested for publishing false news and offensive conduct over videos insulting President John Dramani Mahama.
According to reports, TikToker Camilla Alhassan was put before an Accra Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to charges levelled against her.
Camilla Alhassan appeared before Accra Circuit Court 1 on Friday, June 10, the same day she was arrested and admitted to all the charges preferred against her.
Her Honour Emmanuella Asmah, who was presiding judge, deferred sentencing to July 16, 2026, and ordered that Alhassan undergo a pregnancy test before the court delivers its judgment.
TikToker Camilla Alhassan has since been sentenced to one year in prison by the Accra Circuit Court.
Her arrest follows a series of videos posted on TikTok in the aftermath of recent flooding and fire outbreaks in parts of Accra, where she alleged that Mahama had sacrificed 32 cows to secure political power to conceal his purported sacrifices.
Also, in another video, TikToker Camilla Alhassan was captured with offensive words directed towards President Mahama.
Watch the video below:
30th GJA Awards: I appeal to President Mahama to pardon Camila Alhassan, who is in jail because of her social media activity. We must not allow fear and panic to become the new language of political control – Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin https://t.co/KwtnM8UgZs
— The1957News (@The1957News) November 7, 2026
@ghnow_ Influencer Dulcie Spotted at Black Star Fashion Week Finale @Dulcie Boateng #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Brides Maid and Grooms Men are ready for the wedding of Efya #GHNow #fyp ♬ Wedding Song – Wendy Shay & Kuami Eugene
