The dangers of misinformation, disinformation and mal information have been underscored by the Minister for Information Fatimatu Abubakar.
She pointed out that the phenomenon is a global threat and a canker to society that needs a collective effort to address.
The growing global challenge threatens democratic processes, society cohesion and law and order
These concerns were underscored in the Minister’s keynote address at Somanya, during a workshop for Journalists under the auspices of The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Information on
elections reporting.
Key stakeholders, she said, have raised concerns about the adverse effects of misinformation and disinformation and warned that the impact could be even more harmful than the COVID-19 pandemic if not addressed,
“We’ve been concerned that, especially for the online ecosystem, day in and day out with AI and other sophisticated tools, the space has become even more complicated,” she stated.
The workshop, under the theme, ‘Empowering journalists for credible elections: Enhancing reporting and fact-checking skills.’ was designed to provide journalists with essential online and offline tools to verify information, both in the office and in the field.
Fatimatu Abubakar challenged media practitioners to prioritize professionalism and ethical standards as Ghana approaches its next general election. She urged journalists to take responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of their reporting, especially in the current digital age, where false information spreads rapidly.
The Minister emphasized the importance of fact-checking during political coverage and drew attention to a recent example from the U.S. presidential debate about how moderators fact-checked candidates’ claims in real-time. She encouraged Ghanaian journalists to adopt similar practices to prevent the spread of false information.
She pleaded with journalists to protect Ghana’s peace and stability through responsible reporting before, during and after election periods and warned against allowing misinformation to fuel conflict, citing examples of international examples where rumors led to violence
Addressing participants, the President of PRINPAG, Andrew Edwin Arthur, underscored the critical role the media plays in fostering peace, democracy, and accountability and emphasized the need for journalists to be professionals and adhere to ethical reporting during the general election.
