As Ghana approaches the critical December 2024 elections, the country faces a daunting battle against the evolving spread of misinformation and disinformation, aided by unprecedented technological advancements.
Many, who have expressed concern over the alarming nature of misinformation and disinformation in recent times, strongly contend that false information could disrupt Ghana’s democratic processes, sow discord among citizens, and undermine the credibility of the entire electoral system in the upcoming polls.
This alarming trend, in the view of several well-meaning Ghanaians necessitates urgent attention and concerted efforts from all stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s democracy.
Joyce Bawah Mogtari Esq., Spokesperson and Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, reacting to an upcoming Ghana Report Summit, themed “Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation – Election 2024”, decried the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation.
The summit aims to dissect the pervasive issue of fake news and propaganda, shedding light on its origins, implications, and potential countermeasures.
In her statement, Mrs Mogtari emphasized the necessity of exposing the real facts behind the evolving and alarming trend of misinformation and disinformation, applauding the initiative to convene a summit that brings government leaders and stakeholders together.
“Good to see that Government leaders will be present and hopefully listen to the truth about disinformation disguised as propaganda and why the proliferation of fake news over the past few years”.
Joyce Bawah Mogtari Esq. Spokesperson and Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama
Mrs. Mogtari also highlighted the frustration of lodging formal complaints without seeing tangible results, urging a more effective response to the problem.
Government’s Alleged Disinformation Actvities
Stan Xoese Dogbe, a Political Communication Strategist and Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, echoed Mrs. Mogtari’s concerns and called for urgent action.
“Thanks, Rash, for the upcoming event. Good to see the president will be there. Nothing he says there will be sincere when it comes to misinformation and disinformation because his administration has since the latter part of 2019 been actively running a fake news factory”.
Stan Xoese Dogbe Political Communication Strategist and Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama
He criticized the government’s perceived attempts to camouflage their alleged disinformation activities with campaigns against misinformation launched by the Information Ministry.
Nonetheless, Mr Dogbe expressed hope that the summit, especially with the involvement of leaders from the political parties, civil society organizations, and academia would have a positive impact as the nation prepares for the crucial December elections.
The statements by Mrs. Mogtari and Mr. Dogbe underscore the critical need for stakeholders to take decisive action against the alarming nature of misinformation and disinformation.
In an earlier statement, the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) of Ghana underscored a significant threat posed by malicious actors employing sophisticated software like deep fakes to target marginalized groups with false narratives.
According to Ms. Mary Ama Bawah, a member of the Capacity Building and Awareness Creation unit of the CSA, these tactics pose a significant threat to the integrity of democratic processes.
As the country gears up for the crucial December 2024 general, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the information circulating within the public sphere is very paramount.
The proliferation of false information not only threatens to derail democratic processes, as earlier intimated but also has the potency to risk eroding public trust in the country’s electoral system.
To avert the dire ramifications of misinformation and disinformation on Ghana’s democratic governance, political leaders, media organizations, civil society, and the general populace need to collaborate in combating the menace.
The upcoming Ghana Report Summit serves as a crucial platform to foster dialogue, develop strategies, and implement measures that can effectively counter the spread of false information.
It is only through such collective efforts can Ghana safeguard its democracy and ensure a fair and transparent electoral process in December 2024 and beyond.
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