ACCRA, Ghana — An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced Jeffrey Epprim Nyame, a prominent Ghanaian blogger, to 30 days in jail for publishing false news, marking a significant development in Ghana’s efforts to combat misinformation on social media.
Judge Isaac Addo found Nyame guilty after a trial that began last year. The verdict, delivered on Wednesday, comes amid growing concerns about the spread of false information online in Ghana.
The case centered on an article Nyame published on his news portal, reportghana.net, on October 27, 2022. Titled “Dollar account holders to get cedi at BoG rate for bank withdrawal effective 31st Oct?”, the piece was widely circulated on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong, leading the prosecution, argued that the false news caused panic among bank customers, leading to a surge in withdrawals and creating difficulties for financial institutions.
During the sentencing, John Baptist Ayitse, a lawyer acting as a friend of the court, pleaded for leniency, citing Nyame’s youth and the lessons learned from the incident. Nyame himself pledged not to repeat the offense. However, Judge Addo remained firm in his decision to impose a custodial sentence.
“We need to crack the whip to serve as a deterrent to others who abuse social media to spread misinformation, which creates fear and panic,” Judge Addo stated, expressing serious concern about the unchecked publication of false news on social media platforms.
The court acquitted and discharged Jeremiah Kobina Egyabeng, an IT professional who had been charged with abetment in the case.
