STAKEHOLDERS in Ghana’s media sector have deliberated on a comprehensive National Action Plan to tackle the rising challenge of misinformation and disinformation in the country.
The initiative follows a National Conference on Disinformation and Misinformation, where a seven-point communiqué was collectively agreed upon by political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), media representatives, and development partners.
The company conference was organized by Ministry of Information in Accra on Thursday, December 21, 2023.
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The forum featured participation from media umbrella bodies such as Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), and the National Media Commission (NMC).
The National Action Plan aims to safeguard the integrity of information, promote media literacy, and cultivate a culture of responsible digital citizenship.Â
Ghanaian minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who opened the ceremony emphasized the urgency of addressing the proliferation of false information in the media space.
He highlighted the exponential growth in media channels across the country and the need to put in measures to address the rising tide of mis/disinformation.
“With the advancement of media, now there’s a multiplicity of channels all over the country, and we’re very proud of that. About 700 radio stations have authorization to operate in the country, 100s of TV channels, last count was about over 200 of them and 1,000s of publications both online and print, and then new media platforms.
“So the question is where is the editor or editorial board? The risk, therefore, is that information that lacks integrity finds itself in the public domain, and that’s what gives rise to mis/disinformation,” Nkrumah said.
The minister called for a collective commitment to addressing the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation, emphasizing the importance of the National Action Plan in safeguarding public trust and maintaining the integrity of information in Ghana’s evolving media environment.
The plan when finalized will help the country make a significant step forward against the adverse effects of misinformation in the West African nation.
Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
