Claim: A viral video suggests that Nana Kwame Bediako delivered a speech to the UK Parliament on behalf of African leaders.
Verdict: Misleading. DUBAWA’s findings reveal that Nana Kwame Bediako’s event was not listed on Oct. 10, 2024 in the Hansard of the House of Commons and House of Lords, the two leading chambers of parliament in the United Kingdom.
Full Text
With less than 60 days to Ghana’s parliamentary and presidential polls, several parties have intensified their efforts to canvas for votes. The media landscape is filled with political ads and other political content. Going on a 100-metre drive is hard without coming across a political poster or party paraphernalia.
In the heat of political campaigns, Nana Kwame Bediako, an independent presidential candidate and leader of The New Force for the Dec. polls, is reported to have presented at the UK Parliament on behalf of African leaders on Oct. 10, 2024.
“The first African leader to apologise on behalf of African leaders for their mistakes, which have caused an economic crisis, currency devaluation, stagnant development, etc. Apart from apologising, he is also the first to present a petition on English soil in the UK parliament, urging the world to refrain from using their foreign influences to instigate our political systems and become our international, commercial partners instead,” he captioned a video depicting his presentation at the UK Parliament.
This has generated several discussions with social media users, doubting his credibility as an individual.
“This is certainly NOT the UK’s parliament. I’m beginning to believe the narrative that this guy is a pure scam,” an X user, Yaw Eduful, commented.
Another X user, @YouKnowGhana, posted screenshots of the event with the caption:
“A source just told me that the New Force candidate, Cheddar, wasn’t invited by any sitting UK MP. They rented the Churchill Room on the UK Parliament grounds and played their campaign video for their own guests. He was with the deported spokesperson. This fraud is brazen.”
DUBAWA decided to investigate this in its fight against misinformation and disinformation ahead of Ghana’s elections.
Verification
The UK Parliament has two leading chambers that serve as a check and challenge the government on its decisions that affect the people. The House of Commons and the House of Lords debate on significant issues of the day and make and shape laws.
DUBAWA thoroughly reviewed events at the UK parliament’s House of Commons, House of Lords, and Committees on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Findings reveal that there were sittings in both Houses on the said date. However, Nana Kwame Bediako’s event was not listed in either venue.
DUBAWA reviewed the UK Parliament’s Hansard Volume 754, and events on that day saw members of parliament ask the secretary of state for transport, Louise Haigh, questions concerning several British transport challenges. Other discussions at the Chamber of Commons on Oct. 10, 2024, included freedom of speech in universities, forthcoming business for the week starting Oct. 14, Team GB and the paralympicsGB in Paris, and the rising cost of rail fares. Hansard states that discussions at Westminster Hall included debates on improving support for mental health and humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Further, DUBAWA conducted an InVID keyframe analysis of Nana Kwame Bediako’s event excerpts. We also did a Google Reverse Image Search with the keyframes. Findings revealed that Nana Kwame Bediako’s event was held in Committee Room 10 at the Palace of Westminster.
According to the UK Parliament, Committee Room 10 can be booked for private meetings for a maximum of two hours. The committee rooms can be booked by a staff of the House of Commons (full pass holders), a member of parliament, or in the name of a committee of the House.
Considering the official capacity and prominence of the UK Parliament, Nana Kwame Bediako’s event would have been covered by major international news outlets if it was an official event held in the chambers of the House of Commons and the House of the Lords.
However, DUBAWA found no publication by any major media international news outlet.
Conclusion
Although Nana Kwame Bediako’s event took place in Committee Room 10 at the Palace of Westminster, findings reveal that it was not listed in the Hansard.