Mohammed Ibrahim, popularly known as Commander Kanawu, a staunch supporter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Circuit Court in Accra. The ruling, delivered by Judge Evelyn E. Asamoah on November 29, 2024, follows his conviction for inciting violence and spreading false information.
Commander Kanawu, who served as the Sowutuom Branch Organizer of the NDC, was arrested on September 10, 2024, after a video of him making inflammatory statements went viral on social media. In the video, Ibrahim accused the Ashanti Region Police Service of recruiting fake officers with the intent to kill citizens during the upcoming December 7 general elections. He also made threats against high-profile officials, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare, Interior Minister Henry Quartey, and Electoral Commission Chairperson Jean Mensa.
The court charged Ibrahim with three offenses: Publication of False News with Intent to Cause Fear and Alarm to the Public, Threat of Harm, and Offensive Conduct Conducive to Breach of Peace. Despite pleading not guilty, he was found guilty on all counts. He received sentences of three and four years for the respective charges, which are to be served consecutively.
The trial, which began on September 13, 2024, saw the prosecution present three witnesses and ten pieces of evidence. Ibrahim’s lawyer, Francis-Xavier Sosu, requested an expedited hearing, which the court granted.