Accra: The Ghana office of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) has organized a breakfast meeting to address the growing challenge of misinformation, disinformation, and their impact on security and democracy in West Africa. The event, held in Accra, brought together foreign and local scholars in information and communication technology, artificial intelligence (AI), scientists, and members of civil society organizations.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event, themed ‘The Information Battlefield: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Their Impact on Security in West Africa,’ was dubbed ‘Ma Ye Nkasa’ and outlined the critical issues surrounding the spread of false information, exploring potential solutions. The KAS Foundation, which upholds values of democracy, rule of law, and social justice, organized the event to highlight the detrimental role of misinformation in politics and governance, tracing the historical roots of information distortion in Ghana’s political landscape.
A notable example cited was the debate about Ghana’s democratic history, specifically concerning the founding date of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society (ARPS) and the conditions of the bond of 1844. Participants noted that misinformation and disinformation in elections mislead voters, causing decisions to be based on falsehoods rather than factual party manifestos. KAS Country Director, Ms. Anna Lena Sabroso-Wasserfall, emphasized the event’s importance and urged stakeholders to intensify public sensitization and fact-checking to curb misinformation.
Nana Yaa Ansua, Secretary of the National Queen Mothers Platform, highlighted their role in addressing false narratives by educating communities and leveraging social media to counter misinformation. Dr. James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, the keynote speaker, provided a historical perspective on disinformation, citing its harmful effects on public trust and its threat to democracy. He emphasized the need for stronger legal frameworks and collective efforts to combat misinformation.
The event concluded with a roundtable discussion, reinforcing the importance of collective responsibility in tackling misinformation and safeguarding democratic governance.