The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on Wednesday, March 27, organised a public forum on countering mis-disinformation and propaganda narratives ahead of the 2024 General Elections.
The forum was organised in partnership with the National Peace Council (NPC) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) with funding support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UK.
Although Ghana remains relatively stable, it continues to face threats posed by mis/disinformation from both internal and external sources.
The use of fake news websites and cyber battalions to market party candidates and boost voter turnout for parties and candidates has become common.
Elections in Ghana are typically marked by heightened tension and volatility. Different players scramble to control the political discourse and deploy narratives (both online and offline) to public opinion and to influence the decisions of the electorate.
In 2019, for instance, a research report by the University of Exeter revealed that the two leading political parties; the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) built "cyber battalions or social media armies" for the 2020 elections.
As Ghana's 2024 elections draw closer, campaigning is expected to intensify and political tensions will be awash with mis/disinformation and propaganda narratives including those from hostile states, with the view of undermining the integrity of the elections.
With this year’s polls tagged as crucial, the Media Foundation for West Africa organised its forum on Wednesday to analyse the escalating issues of mis/disinformation and propaganda narratives to discuss their impact on national stability and democratic governance.
The forum also focused on generating actionable strategies and recommendations on how Ghana can build resilience against the proliferation of mis/disinformation and propaganda narratives towards the 2024 electioneering process.
Speaking at the Forum, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Mr. Sulemana Braimah said mis/disinformation has become one of the most serious threats to election security worldwide.
He said as a global problem that is increasingly becoming alarming in Africa, it will not spare Ghana if it is not addressed.
He said mis/disinformation and propaganda narratives would get worse in the lead-up to the election because elections are seen to provide fertile grounds for disinformation campaigns.
“We share boundaries with countries that are targets for massive disinformation campaigns. So we face a challenging situation ahead of this year’s elections. If the situation is not tackled robustly, the consequences can be dire,” Mr. Sulemana Braimah warned.
In his address, the MFWA Executive Director called for collaboration between all stakeholders to combat misinformation before, during and after the 2024 general election.
“We are here because we know there is a problem and we know collectively we can act together to dismantle any disinformation that will be targeted at disrupting our 2024 General election,” Mr. Braimah said.
In an address as a Special Guest, Information Minister Designate, Madam Fatimatu Abubakar underscored the importance of addressing mis/disinformation as she commended the Media Foundation for West Africa, the National Peace Council, and the National Commission for Civic Education for organising the forum.
She said mis/disinformation and propaganda narratives need to be tackled head-on as they affect the foundation of Ghana’s democracy.
“It’s incumbent on us as custodians of our constitutions to join hands to address misinformation, disinformation and propaganda. We must stand united to counter these threats and ensure that the voice of every Ghanaian is heard.
“Let’s draw inspiration from the spirit of our forebears and our commitment to democracy to confront misinformation, disinformation and propaganda to ensure the light of truth shines brightly towards a future where democracy thrives,” Madam Fatimatu Abubakar said.
The Information Minister-designate in her remarks assured that the government is committed to doing its part through her Ministry.
On his part, the Development Director at the British High Commission, Richard Sandall indicated that Ghana is not alone in the fight against mis/disinformation.
He said, “We are fighting this together with you and that’s why we have supported the training of journalists and social media influencers,” when he delivered a speech in the stead of British High Commissioner, H.E Harriet Thompson.
Richard Sandall indicated that addressing mis-disinformation and propaganda narratives will help Ghana maintain its enviable achievements in conducting successful elections throughout the fourth republic.
He said he does not doubt that if stakeholders work together with the media leading the charge, the threats posed by mis/disinformation and propaganda narratives will be addressed.
The Public Forum on Countering Mis/disinformation and Propaganda Narratives in the 2024 Elections was attended by about 150 participants including representatives from the National Peace Council and NCCE, governance and media experts, legal experts, CSOs, public and state institutions, journalists and human rights experts.
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