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Popular Ghanaian blogger Jeffrey Epprim Nyame from Reportghana.net has been sentenced to a 30-day jail term for publishing false news, following a trial that has garnered significant attention. The Accra Circuit Court, under the authority of Judge Isaac Addo, found Nyame guilty and handed down the custodial sentence despite pleas for leniency.
Nyame, who had been facing charges for the publication of false news since last year, was convicted after the court determined that he had indeed disseminated misleading information. His co-accused, Jeremiah Kobina Egyabeng, an IT professional charged with abetment, was acquitted and discharged by the court.
John Baptist Ayitse, acting as a friend of the court, made an effort to seek clemency for Nyame, arguing that the young blogger had learned a crucial lesson from his experience. Nyame himself promised not to repeat the offense, hoping for a non-custodial sentence. However, Judge Addo remained firm in his decision, emphasizing the serious implications of spreading false information on social media.
The judge expressed concern about the widespread dissemination of unverified news on social media, often driven by the desire to be first rather than accurate. He stressed the importance of setting a precedent to deter others from engaging in similar actions that could cause public harm and panic.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong, presented the case that Nyame had published a false article on his news portal, reportghana.net, on October 27, 2022. The article falsely claimed that dollar account holders would be required to withdraw funds in cedis at the Bank of Ghana rate starting October 31. This misinformation, which circulated widely on WhatsApp, led to panic withdrawals among bank customers, creating challenges for financial institutions.
Nyame’s sentencing serves as a stern warning against the publication of false information, highlighting the need for responsible journalism and social media use.
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