Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
As part of measures to address the rising challenges of misinformation and disinformation in this digital age, the government is set to host a high-profile seminar on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
The seminar, dubbed “Impact of Disinformation on Electoral Integrity, Peace, and Security in Africa,” will be held at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC).In a video announcement yesterday, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, noted that the media has been liberalised since 1993 when Ghana entered a democratic dispensation.
Through that, Ghana can now boast about 700 radio stations, hundreds of television stations, thousands of online publication outlets, and scores of print publications.
“Our media has become robust and dynamic, but it is in the midst of this robust and dynamic media environment that we are realizing that misinformation and disinformation are growing,” he said.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah noted that in the current age where communication plays a pivotal role in human life, there is the pressing need to combat the pervasive issues of misinformation and disinformation due to their inherent risks hence, the need for the seminar.
The event
The seminar is being organised by the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority.
It aims to assess the impact of disinformation on electoral integrity in Ghana and Africa as a whole, and will investigate the link between digitalisation and disinformation, assess security threats, explore stakeholder roles, and promote international collaboration in countering disinformation.
Among the expected outcomes of the seminar is the signing of a declaration by key stakeholders, outlining strategies and recommendations to combat the adverse effects of disinformation on electoral integrity, peace, and security.
The event will be attended by a diverse range of participants, including government institutions, political parties, media organizations, civil society groups, fact-checking organizations, and international bodies.
