The Minority in Parliament has called on the Mahama administration to discontinue the reported second prosecution of jailed TikToker Camilla Alhassan and halt the use of what it describes as outdated laws that criminalise free speech.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Friday, July 17 2026, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged the government to immediately stop all prosecutions under Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, insisting the provisions have no place in a modern democracy.

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His comments come after an Accra Circuit Court sentenced the 43-year-old TikToker to one year's imprisonment with hard labour after she pleaded guilty to offensive conduct over derogatory remarks she made about President John Dramani Mahama in a TikTok video.

Although Alhassan has already been convicted, the Ghana Police Service has indicated that she will also face a separate charge of false communication under the Electronic Communications Act.

Reacting to the development, Afenyo-Markin said the second prosecution should be withdrawn.

"We demand the immediate withdrawal of all pending prosecutions under Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, including the second prosecution threatened against Camilla Alhassan," he said.

The Minority also called for the release of persons currently serving prison terms under the provisions, citing the case of Kwame Nkrumah II.

"We demand the discharge of any person currently serving a sentence, including Kwame Nkrumah II. There's a gentleman, Kwame Nkrumah II, who was jailed about six months ago over a TikTok video," he stated.

Afenyo-Markin further urged Parliament to fast-track legislation to repeal the two sections, saying the Minority has already laid a bill before the House

"We demand the passage, without delay, of legislation repealing both sections. The Mighty Minority is proposing legislation along the lines of the bill already before the House," he said.

He also appealed to President Mahama to direct law enforcement agencies to stop prosecuting Ghanaians under the contested provisions.

"We are asking His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that no prosecution is undertaken by the police forthwith," he said.

The Minority argues that repealing the provisions would complete Ghana's democratic reforms following the abolition of the criminal libel law in 2001.

NA/AM

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