Last September, popular TikToker David Kwodwo Prah Afful, known as Kwame Nkrumah II, was sentenced to seven months in prison after being found guilty of making a death threat and producing offensive conduct conducive to a breach of the peace.
He had threatened to kill Mahama and members of parliament in a viral video.
Last year, the president said that his government was considering ways to “sanitise” social media, instructing the authorities to track down and arrest those spreading misinformation and disinformation.
“I’m sending a signal to Ghanaians that if you peddle falsehood, hate speech and make utterances to cause fear and panic, we will find you,” he said at a press conference.
A year ago, Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George announced plans to introduce legislation to combat the issue.
The proposed law would create a legal framework for enforcement while seeking to safeguard free speech.
Ghana is widely regarded as one of West Africa’s strongest democracies, with constitutional protections for freedom of expression and a vibrant media landscape.
However, concerns have grown in recent years over the spread of false information on social media, prompting calls for stronger regulation while rights groups warn against measures that could restrict free speech. BBC