Accra: A three-year Anti-Disinformation Coalition project has been launched in Accra to curb misinformation through collaborative action, localized research, and AI-powered tools to equip young people to identify, verify, and counter false information online. The initiative aims to bring together various stakeholders to address the growing challenge of disinformation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project is being implemented by Penplusbytes with funding from the Royal Norwegian Embassy. It was unveiled at a youth seminar organized by Discovery Teen Magazine and Foundation. Dr. Charity Binkah, Board Chair of Penplusbytes, highlighted that fake news poses a direct threat to public health and social space, with disinformation in local languages spreading rapidly.
Dr. Binkah emphasized the importance of collaboration among youth, media, technology partners, academia, civil society, and government to tackle disinformation, which undermines social cohesion, affects elections, and damages reputations. She stressed that no single group could address this challenge alone and urged young people to verify information before sharing it, noting that even AI or online bios could mislead if not properly checked.
Dr. Zenator Agyemang-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Security and Intelligence, warned of the legal implications of cyber offenses, particularly the unlawful sharing of intimate images. She advised participants to verify information before forwarding it, stressing the importance of questioning and verifying content.
Madam Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, Founder of Discovery Teen Magazine and Foundation, pointed out that although young people are highly active online, many lack the skills to navigate associated risks. She urged responsible use of the internet, highlighting the potential consequences of sharing misleading information.