Akufo-Addo says he is committed to transferring power peacefully in December
Ghana's President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated his commitment to a ensuring peaceful electoral process and power transition in the upcoming elections.
Speaking at the Ghana Report Summit in Accra on the theme "Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation - Election 2024," President Akufo-Addo underlined the need for a peaceful election process, adding that Ghana's democracy serves as a model for Africa and the rest of the globe.
He also urged the media to remain vigilant ahead of the 2024 elections to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation, as their impact on the elections cannot be underestimated.
“The peaceful transition of power is evidenced by the changes in the national political leadership, from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and back, underscores the maturity of our democratic institutions and the resilience of our electoral process."
“Our democratic journey has been made possible by the active participation of the citizenry. A robust civil society and a free media. These elements reinforce collectively, Ghana’s reputation as a stable democratic nation. It is within this context that, we must address the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation which threatens, and undermines the democratic gains we have made,” he remarked.
President Akufo-Addo also urged the general public and key stakeholders to adopt proactive measures to prevent the propagation of misinformation.
He announced that his administration has begun discussions with stakeholders and plans to launch a nationwide initiative to combat misinformation and deception.
On his part, National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah urged the media to maintain the greatest level of professionalism and caution in their programmes and activities leading up to the elections.
He suggested that these processes could act as agents of misinformation for the public.
"Media outlets must at all times uphold the highest ethical standards of journalism, emphasising facts checking balanced reporting and objective analysis, totally devoid of regime change agendas that could destabilise our nation,” he said.
Source: Lead News Online
