In an impactful speech at the Ghana Report Summit titled “Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation – Election 2024,” President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo highlighted the urgent need to tackle the spread of false information within the democratic process.
The summit, held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, convened key stakeholders to confront the escalating threat of misinformation and disinformation as the general elections approach.
President Akufo-Addo began by praising Ghana’s strong democratic history, characterized by eight successful general elections since the reinstatement of constitutional rule in 1993.
He noted that peaceful power transitions between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have solidified Ghana’s reputation as a stable democracy. However, he cautioned that misinformation and disinformation significantly threaten these democratic achievements.
“Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information spread unintentionally, while disinformation involves the deliberate dissemination of false information to deceive,” President Akufo-Addo explained. “These false narratives can distort public perception, undermine trust in our institutions, and even incite violence.”
He pointed out that the digital age, with its rapid spread of information, has intensified the challenge. Social media platforms, despite their many benefits, have become hotbeds for the dissemination of false information.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized that misinformation could distort public perceptions of candidates and political parties, leading to uninformed decision-making at the polls.
Additionally, disinformation campaigns often exploit societal divisions, heightening existing tensions and jeopardizing social cohesion.
Drawing from his own experiences, President Akufo-Addo recounted malicious stories that targeted him during the 2008, 2012, and 2016 presidential elections.
According to him, these experiences highlight the critical need to distinguish truth from falsehood and remain vigilant against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation.
To combat these challenges, President Akufo-Addo outlined several measures, such as bolstering regulatory frameworks to hold individuals and organizations accountable for spreading false information.
The framework will have collaborations with technology companies to develop systems for monitoring and curbing the spread of false information on digital platforms.
Meanwhile, citizens will also be educated about the dangers of misinformation and disinformation, whereas media literacy will be promoted to empower voters to make informed decisions.
Supporting fact-checking organizations to verify information and debunk false claims is another essential strategy, Akufo-Addo asserted.
He also stressed the need for all political actors to commit to truthfulness and transparency in their campaigns.