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

The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong, informed the court that Nyame had posted the false information on his news portal, reportghana.net, on October 27, 2022. The article “Dollar Account Holders to Get Cedi at BoG Rate for Bank Withdrawals Effective 31st Oct?” was widely circulated on WhatsApp, causing widespread fear and panic. This led to panic withdrawals by bank customers, putting significant strain on financial institutions.

An Accra Circuit Court, under the supervision of Mr. Isaac Addo, found him guilty and imposed the jail sentence. In the same case, the court acquitted Jeremiah Kobina Egyabeng, an IT specialist who had been accused of aiding Nyame, clearing him of all charges.

Nyame’s lawyer asked for a lighter sentence, arguing that Nyame had learned from his mistake and wouldn’t do it again. Nyame also expressed regret and promised not to repeat the offense.

Despite these pleas, Judge Isaac Addo decided that a custodial sentence was necessary. The judge emphasized the importance of deterring others from spreading false news, which can create unnecessary fear and disrupt public trust.