Blogger jailed 30 days for publishing fake news

Jeffrey Epprim Nyame, a popular Ghanaian blogger, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for publishing false news.

The blogger, who is now convicted, had been on trial since last year on charges of publishing fake news.

Mr Isaac Addo presided over the Accra Circuit Court, which found him guilty of the offense and sentenced him to prison.

However, the court acquitted and released IT specialist Jeremiah Kobina Egyabeng, who was also accused with abetment.

John Baptist Ayitse, a lawyer serving as a friend of the court, sought to request leniency for Nyame, arguing that the blogger is young and has learnt valuable lessons from his actions and the repercussions.

The offender pleaded to the petition for compassion by promising not to repeat the offense.

However, neither the accused nor John Baptist Ayitse's repeated plea for compassion could persuade Judge Isaac Addo to reconsider his judgment. He insisted on giving Nyame a prison sentence instead of the suggested non-custodial one.

The judge voiced great worry about the unchecked spread of fake news on social media, which stems from a rush to broadcast material without first checking its truth and accuracy.

Isaac Addo underlined the need to "crack the whip" as a deterrence to those who use social media to promote falsehoods, instilling fear and terror.

The prosecution team, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong, informed the court that Nyame published the fake news on his news site, reportghana.net, on October 27, 2022.

According to the prosecution, the article, titled "Dollar account holders to get cedi at BoG rate for bank withdrawal effective October 31st?" was shared on multiple WhatsApp platforms, causing fear and panic in the public.

It said that the bogus news prompted bank clients to make panic withdrawals, creating a tough scenario for financial institutions.

Source : Lead News Online