The dangers of misinformation, disinformation and mal information has be underscored by the Minister for Information Fatimatu Abubak .She pointed out that the phenomenon is a global threat and a canker to society that needs collective effort to address. The growing global challenge threatens democratic processes ,society cohesion and law and order
These concerns were underscored in her keynote address on Friday, September 13 at Somanya, during a workshop for journalist under the auspices of The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Information on elections reporting for its members.
Key stakeholders, she said, have raised concerns about the adverse effects of misinformation and disinformation and warned that the impact could be even more harmful than the COVID-19 pandemic if not addressed,
“We’ve been concerned that, especially for the online ecosystem, day in and day out with AI and other sophisticated tools, the space has become even more complicated,” she stated.
The workshop, under the theme, ‘Empowering journalists for credible elections: Enhancing reporting and fact-checking skills.’ was designed to provide journalists with essential online and offline tools to verify information, both in the office and in the field.
The minister challenged media practitioners to prioritize professionalism and ethical standards as Ghana approaches its next general election. She urged journalists to take responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of their reporting, especially in the current digital age, where false information spreads rapidly.
The Minister emphasized the importance of fact-checking during political coverage and drew attention to a recent example from the U.S. presidential debate about how moderators fact-checked candidates’ claims in real-time. She encouraged Ghanaian journalists to adopt similar practices to prevent the spread of false information.
She pleaded with journalists to protect Ghana’s peace and stability through responsible reporting before, during and after election periods and warned against allowing misinformation to fuel conflict, citing examples of international examples where rumors led to violence
Addressing participants ,the President of PRINPAG, lawyer Andrew Edwin Arthur, underscored the critical role the media plays in fostering peace, democracy, and accountability and emphasized the need for journalists to be professionals and adhere to ethical reporting during the general elections.
He encourage members to minimize lapses within the industry to make it economically viable and attractive for investment for sustainability and growth .He caution against tendencies that can potentially undermine the industry through “fragmentation, greed, self-aggrandizement, needless sensationalism and politicization of the media.
He warned that such trends are damaging public trust in the media and reducing patronage of private newspapers and urged journalists to return to high professional standards and avoid becoming conduits for political manipulation.
In his address, the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), John Appiah Barfoe , expressed concern over the rise in fake news, particularly in the print and electronic media, which he believes aims to undermine the EC’s credibility.
According to him, the phenomenon of fake news must stop now, and urged journalists to ensure all electoral concerns are directed to the EC for a resolution to avoid fueling tensions.
“We must all know that the Electoral Commission is the only election management body created by the 1992 Constitution to manage public elections and referenda in Ghana. Let us not publish issues that may have negative repercussions on our democracy,” he advised.
The Municipal Chief Exective of the Yilo Krobo Assembly, Eric Tetteh emphasized the critical role of training in professional success, particularly for journalists reporting elections.
Training, he said, is key in order to succeed in any profession and drew comparisons to the military’s approach to continuous training.
He stressed the importance of journalists staying within their field of expertise and maintaining impartiality, particularly when covering political debates and interviews.
“Yours is to inform, to educate,” Tetteh advised urged journalists to challenge political figures when necessary and ensure accurate, balanced reporting.
