Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has publicly debunked circulating rumours of his death, which emerged after social media posts featured his photos accompanied by the message “Rest Well” and crying emojis.

Addressing the speculation in an interview on April 16, 2025, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker said, “I think you need to ignore the rumours and know that, by God’s grace, I am alive.

I do not know where the rumours are coming from, but somebody mentioned to me that it was because of an interview I granted.”

He clarified that he never endorsed the interpretation that “Rest Well” meant he had passed away.

“Let me emphasise for the record that, in that interview, I never supported anyone who said that 'Rest Well' means you are resting.

I said that was the interpretation the individual placed on it,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the origin of the controversy traces back to Mohammed Zakou, a social media activist affiliated with the NPP.

Zakou was arrested after posting a photo of Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on Facebook on April 4, 2025, with the caption, “Rest well, Your Excellency,” and crying emojis.

The post came just days after an official statement confirmed that the Vice President had been treated at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) following a sudden illness on March 28.

The statement also noted that she would undergo further treatment abroad to ensure a full recovery.

Zakou’s post was widely condemned as misleading and insensitive, with many interpreting it as falsely suggesting the Vice President had died.

His arrest by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) over the weekend has sparked a broader debate about freedom of speech and the boundaries of expression on social media.

He has since been granted bail and is required to report weekly to the investigator.

The case has been adjourned to May 12, 2025, for a case management conference