Ghana Election 2024

National Media Commission backs Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition to combat misinformation

Nov 10, 2024 - 20:56

Nov 10, 2024 - 21:04

National Media Commission backs Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition to combat misinformation

Accra, Ghana - Nov 10, 2024 - The National Media Commission (NMC) has thrown its weight behind the newly formed Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at mitigating the threats of misinformation and disinformation to Ghana's peace, stability, and democratic consolidation.

This move comes on the heels of an announcement by the Media Foundation for West Africa, Dubawa, FactSpace West Africa, and other civil society organizations working on information integrity.

In a statement signed and issued on Sunday, November 10, George Sarpong, NMC Executive Secretary, the Coalition is a crucial intervention needed to safeguard Ghana's information space, particularly in the lead-up to the December 7 elections.

Sarpong expressed concern over the surge in malign information operations from both internal and external sources, but noted that the Coalition's collective expertise and resources offer hope for containing disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).

The NMC has pledged to support the Coalition by providing access to its Ghana Media Watch App, a cutting-edge technology for monitoring disinformation set to launch on November 14, 2024

“The deluge of malign information operations observed from both internal and external sources in the past couple of weeks gives cause for concern. By choosing to leverage their collective experience, expertise, credibility and resources, the Coalition has enhanced Ghana’s capacity to address these threats and offered hope for the containment of disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).

“The Commission encourages all stakeholders working to promote peaceful elections to cooperate with the Coalition.

“The National Media Commission hopes to support the Coalition by making available to them our Ghana Media Watch App, a cutting-edge technology for monitoring disinformation planned to be launched on Thursday, November 14, 2024,” he further stated.