Tamale: The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Ghana Office, in collaboration with National Queen Mothers Ghana, successfully concluded a workshop focused on disinformation and misinformation for queen mothers from the Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West regions. The event marked the culmination of the 6th Annual Queen Mothers Workshop, held in Tamale under the theme 'Combating Disinformation and Misinformation: The Role of Queen Mothers in Ensuring Good Governance.'
According to Ghana Web, the workshop was designed to equip traditional leaders with practical tools to combat misinformation and disinformation. More than fifty queen mothers from the five northern regions participated in the event. Dr. Joseph A. Darmoe, Director of Programmes for KAS Ghana, highlighted the severe impact of disinformation and misinformation on society, emphasizing the critical role of queen mothers as trusted community figures in addressing such challenges.
Dr. Darmoe stated, "Mis and disinformation are dangerous. They create confusion about what is true and what is false. They can damage reputations, influence elections, fuel ethnic or political tensions, and even lead to violence. In a society where information spreads very quickly especially through social media, false stories often travel faster than facts." He reiterated the importance of the queen mothers' integrity and wisdom, which can help restore clarity in times of confusion.
Dr. Elvis B. Botah, a lecturer at the Centre for Peace and Security Research, discussed the significant influence of traditional authority structures in Ghana, particularly the role of queen mothers in cultural and governance matters. He noted, "Queen mothers hold particular influence because their authority is tied to culture and matrilineal or patrilineal heritage in many ethnic groups."
Despite their influence, Dr. Botah pointed out challenges such as exclusion from formal decision-making spaces and cultural norms that limit women's roles in political discourse, calling for advocacy for institutional inclusion.
Dr. James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, a lecturer at the University of Professional Studies Accra and workshop facilitator, advised queen mothers on the importance of fact-checking and addressing false information. He stated, "They should promptly deal with rumours, gossip or any false information, especially half-truths."
At the conclusion of the workshop, certificates of participation were awarded to the queen mothers, reinforcing their commitment to combating misinformation within their communities.
The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung is a Germany-based political foundation dedicated to promoting democracy, the rule of law, social market economy, and human rights globally.