By Bright Ntramah
President Akufo-Addo has accused opposition political parties of fabricating stories to undermine his political career focusing on the “Agyapadie” document, which first surfaced in the run-up to the 2020 elections.
Speaking at the inaugural Ghana Report Summit the President called for collective action against misinformation and and disinformation which threatens to undermine the democratic gains. The President guaranteed that the 2024 general election will be conducted peacefully, transparently, and credibly. The Agyapadie document alleges a grand scheme by the NPP to annex state assets.
President Akufo-Addo’s political career has been fraught with similar false accusations, dating back to the 2008 presidential election. During that campaign, baseless allegations of drug trafficking were spread to tarnish his image. Rumors about his health were also circulated to cast doubt on his ability to serve as President. In a particularly egregious lie, opponents accused then-President John Kufuor of selling all of Ghana’s gold reserves, a claim that was patently false.
The 2012 election cycle saw a continuation of these tactics, with false reports of Akufo-Addo’s alleged arrest in London for drug possession making headlines. Fabricated quotes designed to stir ethnic tensions were also disseminated, aiming to divide the electorate.
As the 2024 General Election approach, the Agyapadie document is the latest in a series of lies aimed at discrediting President Akufo-Addo and his party. This fictitious narrative, like the ones before it, highlights the importance of discerning truth from falsehood and remaining vigilant against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized that combating misinformation and disinformation requires a multi-faceted approach. He stressed the need for all political actors to commit to truthfulness and transparency in their campaigns.
He noted that spreading false information for political gain undermines the democratic process and erodes public trust. He said Political parties and candidates must engage in constructive dialogue, presenting their ideas and policies to the electorate truthfully and respectfully. As we approach the 2024 general elections, President Akufo-Addo said government is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of electoral integrity. To this end, we have taken several measures to ensure that the electoral process is free, fair, and transparent.
The Chief Justice, Justice Araba Torkornoo, the IGP, the Akuffo Dampare and other Service Chiefs were present.
The summit is being attended by Heads of political parties, state institutions, the media and CSOs.