Two men accused of helping circulate a video allegedly containing false information about Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama have been granted bail by the Kotobabi Circuit Court.
Issaka Yahaya, of Nsem Fie TV, and Godfred Ansu Damoah appeared before the court after being arrested and charged with conspiracy to publish false information.
The case centres on a video which the prosecution says the two men reposted and shared on social media platforms. In the footage, President Mahama and the National Security Coordinator were purportedly heard discussing “GH¢150 million” during a conversation.
Prosecutors allege the material contained false information and claim that both accused men contributed to its circulation by distributing or reposting it online.
The court granted bail to each defendant in the sum of GH¢30,000. Both men are also required to provide two sureties while the case continues.
The charges relate specifically to an alleged agreement to publish false information. The court has not determined the truth of the allegations, and the matter remains before it.
Yahaya and Damoah are therefore expected to face further proceedings in connection with the video and its distribution. Their appearance followed the arrests and the formal presentation of the conspiracy charge.
The prosecution’s case is based on the allegation that the video falsely portrayed a conversation involving President Mahama and the National Security Coordinator. It says the accused did not merely encounter the material online, but allegedly helped spread it by reposting and circulating it through social media.
The disputed figure in the video is “GH¢150 million”, an amount the prosecution says was presented in a way that amounted to false information. The charge before the court concerns the publication and dissemination of that alleged material, rather than a finding that the claims in the video were accurate.
Both defendants have been admitted to bail pending the determination of the case. The GH¢30,000 bail granted to each man is accompanied by the requirement for two sureties.
No final ruling has been made on the allegations. The Kotobabi Circuit Court will continue to handle the proceedings, with Yahaya and Damoah remaining formally charged with conspiracy to publish false information.
