Why Afenyo-Markin wants President Mahama to pardon jailed TikToker

Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to grant a presidential pardon to Camila Alhassan, a TikToker currently serving a jail term over her social media activities.

He made the appeal while speaking at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards on November 7, 2026, where he raised concerns about the use of Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act to prosecute citizens and journalists over their publications and comments.

TikToker Camilla jailed one year over viral false claims about President Mahama

According to him, Camila’s imprisonment should not become an example of how political authorities deal with criticism and public expression.

“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,” he said.

The Minority Leader said his Caucus was concerned about the growing use of Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act to prosecute citizens and journalists over things they say or publish.

“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.

Afenyo-Markin added that some liberal advocates had also raised concerns about the provision, arguing that it could be used to suppress free expression and dissent.

He maintained that using the law to punish people for their views was inconsistent with the constitutional freedoms of speech and the press.

“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,” he said.

He further assured journalists and other citizens that the Minority would continue to defend their right to express opinions, criticise public officials and disagree with government decisions.

He stressed that freedom of speech should not be limited to particular professions, political groups or social classes.

“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 called for a society where citizens could express their views without fear or intimidation, while also urging them to exercise their freedoms responsibly.

“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,” he concluded.

Jailed TikToker to be arraigned before court on another charge - Police

Camila Alhassan’s conviction followed a TikTok video in which she made insulting and threatening remarks about President John Dramani Mahama and the First Lady, Lordina Mahama.

She was arrested and arraigned before court, where she was sentenced to one year in prison.

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

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