NCCE's Chairperson, Ms. Kathleen Addy Urges Media to Prioritize Fact-Checking and Public Education in the Fight against Misinformation Especially during this Year's Elections

The President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo - Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on politicians to engaged in constructive dialogue rather than disseminating false information about political opponents. The President made this call at the opening of The Ghana Report Summit in Accra.

The summit organised by I-Zar was on the theme: “Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation – Election 2024,” It highlighted the dangers of fake news, misinformation and disinformation in our country and our democratic process.

President Akufo-Addo explained that misinformation and disinformation could be a big threat to our democracy, peace and stability and could create harmful perceptions and fuel divisions in the country.

He implored the media to uphold high standard of professionalism and urged the media to fact check their information before publishing. He said this would help protect the integrity of our election and promote a violent free election.

He said government recognises the importance to collaborate with the media and technology companies to combat the menace of fake news.

Speaking at the summit, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms. Kathleen Addy emphasised on the need to invest in public education in order to conscientize citizens on their role in nation building. She added that the Commission had already started engaging citizens on the menace of disinformation and misinformation.

Ms. Addy highlighted the role of the media and cautioned them to be extra careful not to lose their credibility as Ghana prepares for the elections in December and rather promote issue-based campaign in your reportage.

Ms. Addy advised political actors to have a "Ghana First” approach in all their political activities. “Let’s be committed to this nation, let’s respect each other because we cannot allow fake news to jeopardize our democratic gains”, she added.

The Ga Mantse, King Tackie TeikoTsuru II, emphasised the importance of this year’s elections in the context of Africa’s democratic development. He said elections were a critical part of strengthening democratic institutions and building resilient governance structures, adding that “the upcoming elections are not just about choosing leaders; they are about affirming our commitment to democracy and the values we hold dear”. He called on all stakeholders to play their roles effectively to ensure free and fair elections.

The Chief Executive of I-Zar, Ms Rashida Saani, said Misinformation and disinformation can undermine our democratic processes, erode public trust, and destabilise society. She explained that the goal of the summit was to explore strategies to address these threats and ensure that the electoral process remains transparent and credible.

There were other speakers including, Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of National Security, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector General of Police, Lary Gbevlo-Lartey (Esq), Former National Security Coordinator, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, NDC’s Director of Elections and ICT, NDC and Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Investigative Jounalist, Tiger Eye Pi.