Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has emphasized the need to equip NCCE staff with essential tools to tackle misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech as the 2024 elections approach.She stressed that effectively addressing these issues is key to maintaining the peace that Ghana has enjoyed for over 30 years.

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Speaking at a workshop organized by the NCCE in partnership with the French Embassy, Addy highlighted the importance of understanding the role of information in today’s digital era.“Well Informed Citizens for Election 2024: A Civic Education Initiative on combating Mis/Disinformation and Hate Speech," she emphasised the importance of understanding the dynamics of information in the digital age.

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"This knowledge is crucial for our staff because from now as we head towards the elections and for later, given the world we live in. We know that information is what drives the world and the information that is driving the world is being shared instantaneously across the world because of social media," she explained.Addy also pointed out that social media has the power to both positively and negatively influence society.

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She emphasized the necessity for NCCE staff to be well-prepared to counter misinformation, detect fake news, and effectively manage hate speech."And we know the power of information and the impact that it can have on society for good or ill, so because of that we are taking this exercise very seriously and our staff will be given the tools necessary to use in helping people understand the issues.

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"So, tools for fact checking, tools for identifying fake information, tools for dealing with hate-speech. So, that this capacity building will help them. So, even as they go out, they will be able to do general education for citizens of Ghana," she stated.

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The Electoral Commission (EC) has also raised concerns about the potential impact of false information on the elections, warning that it could undermine voter confidence and threaten the integrity of the electoral process. Dr. Serebour Quaicoo, the EC’s Director of Training, stressed that unchecked misinformation could escalate tensions and harm the election’s credibility.

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He urged the media and the public to prioritize accuracy over speed in sharing election-related content, ensuring that the information shared is reliable and truthful.

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