NCCE Chairperson Raises Alarm on Information Disorder, Empowers the Youth to Lead Advocacy against it

Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mad. Kathleen Addy, has described information disorder as an existential threat that requires urgent and collective action to curtail its devastating impact on individuals and society.

Addressing participants at the 2026 edition of Civic Fest, a flagship youth-centred initiative of the Commission organised with support from the French Embassy in Ghana, the Chairperson emphasised the growing danger posed by the unchecked spread of false and misleading information, particularly on digital and social media platforms.

According to Mad. Addy, some information shared with good intentions can nevertheless cause significant harm when disseminated without proper verification and due diligence. She therefore urged participants and the public to cultivate the habit of fact-checking and verifying information before sharing it with others.

The event, held under the theme, “Youth Media Literacy and Disinformation Awareness,” underscores the Commission’s growing concern about the vulnerability of young people to information disorder in the digital age. As the demographic most active on social media platforms, young people often encounter vast amounts of information daily and can become either victims of misinformation and disinformation or unwitting agents in its spread.

Civic Fest, thus, is part of the NCCE's broader “catch them young” agenda, which seeks to instil civic values, patriotism, critical thinking and responsible citizenship among the youth at an early stage. Introduced in 2024, the programme adopts creative and entertaining approaches to civic education, recognising that young people are more likely to engage with messages delivered through art, culture and performance.

The 2026 edition of Civic Fest reinforced the Commission's commitment to empowering young people with the knowledge and skills needed to combat information disorder and become responsible citizens in an increasingly digital world.