CPP vice presidential candidate Wayoe Ghanamannti says better access to public officials would ease the pressure driving Ghanaians toward social media, as debate over a jailed TikToker continues.
Speaking in a recent interview, Ghanamannti argued that a CPP government would build structured channels for citizens to reach their representatives directly, reducing the incentive to seek attention online instead. “Your representatives will lay your case out, get a hearing,” he said, describing that access as part of what he called grassroots governance. He argued people currently turn to social media largely because formal channels to reach decision makers feel closed off, and that fixing access would remove much of that pressure.
His comments came as Ghana works through a national debate sparked by the case of TikToker Camila Alhassan, sentenced July 16 to a year in prison with hard labour after pleading guilty to offensive conduct over videos falsely claiming President John Mahama buried cows to secure the 2024 election. In the same set of remarks, Ghanamannti addressed that case directly, saying both NDC and NPP supporters bear responsibility for the abusive tone that has become common in Ghanaian political discourse online, rather than blaming either party alone. The sentencing has split opinion nationally: the parliamentary Minority, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called the punishment excessive and demanded repeal of the colonial era criminal insult law used to convict her, while police have separately said they intend to pursue a second prosecution against Alhassan under the Electronic Communications Act.
Ghanamannti, a lawyer, ran as the Convention People’s Party’s vice presidential candidate in 2024 alongside presidential candidate Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong-Kumakumah, in an election the party contested from well outside the NDC and NPP’s usual two party dominance. He has previously used CPP platforms to pledge policies such as decriminalising marijuana possession under a future CPP government.
