Social media falsehoods demand systemic reforms, not jail terms — Sulemana Braimah

The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has called for a more comprehensive approach to tackling online misinformation.

He argued that prosecuting individuals alone will not solve the rising problem of falsehoods on social media.

His comments follow the conviction of TikToker Camila Alhassan, who was sentenced to one year imprisonment with hard labour after pleading guilty to offensive conduct.

The Ghana Police Service has since announced that she will also be arraigned before the High Court on a separate charge of false communication under the Electronic Communications Act over videos in which she allegedly made false allegations, threats and offensive remarks against President John Dramani Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama.

Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday, July 20, Braimah acknowledged that the spread of misinformation and manipulated content online has become a serious concern but said the country needs a broader and more sustainable response.

"Yes, we do have a situation to deal with. We have a problem to tackle... What she did is not right, but we should look at a comprehensive way of dealing with the problem rather than these isolated incidences of picking up people, taking them to court and punishing them through the legal system," said the MFWA boss.

Mr. Braimah noted that social media platforms have increasingly become channels for the spread of false statements, manipulated videos and fabricated content capable of fuelling hatred and polarisation.

He argued that even though Camila admitted to making false claims, there are many others engaging in similar or even more harmful conduct who have not faced prosecution, making selective enforcement an ineffective long-term solution.

"I wouldn't condone what she did or what others like her have been doing, but I don't think that the solution is dragging people to the police stations, prosecuting them, and jailing them in the way that this lady has had to go through," he said.

The MFWA Executive Director further observed Ghana's political environment has, in some instances, incentivised the spread of misinformation and inflammatory content online.