The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has stressed the need to equip NCCE staff with the necessary tools to combat misinformation, disinformation and hate-speech ahead of the 2024 election.
According to her, combating misinformation and disinformation is crucial in sustaining the peace that Ghanaians have enjoyed over the past 30 years.
At a recent workshop organised by the Commission in collaboration with the French Embassy on the theme: “Well Informed Citizens for Election 2024: A Civic Education Initiative on combating Mis/Disinformation and Hate Speech,” she emphasised the importance of understanding the dynamics of information in the digital age.
“This knowledge is crucial for our staff because from now as we head towards the elections and for later, given the world we live in. We know that information is what drives the world and the information that is driving the world is being shared instantaneously across the world because of social media,” she explained.
The NCCE chairperson pointed out the increasing influence of social media in spreading information, noting its dual capacity to bring about both positive and negative societal impacts.
She stressed the need for NCCE staff to be well-prepared to counter misinformation, identify fake news, and address hate speech effectively.
“And we know the power of information and the impact that it can have on society for good or ill, so because of that we are taking this exercise very seriously and our staff will be given the tools necessary to use in helping people understand the issues.
“So, tools for fact checking, tools for identifying fake information, tools for dealing with hate-speech. So, that this capacity building will help them. So, even as they go out, they will be able to do general education for citizens of Ghana,” she stated.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has expressed concerns that fake news and disinformation could have a significant impact on the pending elections, potentially undermining voter confidence and endangering the peace of the electoral process.
Dr. Serebour Quaicoo, Director of Training at the EC, has stressed that the unmonitored spread of misinformation has the potential to fuel tensions and damage the credibility of the election.
He has encouraged both the media and the public to prioritise accuracy over speed when sharing election-related information.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
