Lawyers will appeal - Nana B reacts to TikToker’s one-year sentence

Former National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, has criticised the handling of the case involving TikToker Camilla Alhassan, who was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to offensive conduct and publication of false news.

In a statement, Nana B claimed Camilla was arrested on July 9 and arraigned before a court without access to a lawyer or her family, leading her to plead guilty without legal advice.

He further alleged that when her family and lawyers later located her at the Spintex Police Station, she had been physically assaulted, a claim he said was acknowledged in the presence of a senior police officer.

According to Nana B, Camilla's lawyers filed an application on July 13 asking the court to retake her plea so the case could proceed to trial. He said the application had been scheduled for hearing on July 23.

He, however, claimed that when Camilla appeared before the Circuit Court, the presiding judge proceeded to deliver a one-year sentence without addressing the pending application.

"The judge failed to even acknowledge the pendency of the consequential application for her plea to be re-taken," Nana B said.

He argued that the case raises concerns about freedom of speech and accused the government of using law enforcement against critics.

Nana B added that Camilla's legal team is preparing to appeal the conviction and sentence.