An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a tailor to a fine of 1,000 penalty units, equivalent to GHC12,000, for false publication about the Tradition Rice brand on TikTok.
The Court ruled that failure to pay the fine would result in a 50-day prison term for the convict, Francis Amofa.
He was also ordered to pay GHC6,000 compensation to the complainant and delete the video from his social media page.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, presenting the facts, said the complainant, Mr Dilip Chandwani, is Director of DKC 2015 Limited, importers and distributors of the Tradition Rice brand, with an outlet at Kaneshie, Accra.
He said the 29-year-old tailor, resident at Botwe School Junction, published the video on January 3, 2026, under the TikTok username “VIBRATION 148.”
The video, accompanied by a voice-over in Akan, falsely alleged that the product was fake, deadly and would cause deaths within a year if consumed, advising the public not to patronise it.
DSP Nyamekye said Chandwani reported the matter to the Police, leading to investigations.
On January 6, 2026, Amofa was identified as the operator of the account and arrested at Botwe School Junction.
He was taken to the Criminal Investigative Department Headquarters, where he admitted in his caution and charge statements that the video was not based on any scientific test or verification but was intended to boost his TikTok account by attracting more viewers and followers.
The Court was informed that by the time of Amofa’s arrest, the video had attracted over 800,000 views and about 325 shares, demonstrating its viral reach.
Further investigations established that Tradition Rice is a duly vetted and approved imported food product, certified by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) as safe for human consumption and issued with an FDA Registration Number.
The prosecution said the false publication had negatively affected sales of the Tradition Rice brand nationwide and was likely to injure the reputation and business of Chandwani.
After investigations, Amofa was charged and put before the Court.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
11 Jan. 2026
