The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Dubawa, FactSpace West Africa, and several civil society organizations focused on information integrity have established the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition. This initiative aims to address the significant threat posed by misinformation and disinformation in the lead-up to Ghana’s 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
As highlighted in the 2024 Global Risk Report, misinformation and disinformation are critical risks that could impact numerous countries over the next two years. The report warns that the spread of false information, especially during elections, threatens the legitimacy of elected governments and may lead to political unrest, violence, and a decline in democratic processes.
The ongoing activities surrounding the 2024 general elections in Ghana have already generated numerous false and polarizing narratives that could jeopardize the peaceful conduct of the polls. In response, the Coalition will leverage the strengths and resources of its members to produce timely, well-researched fact-check reports during the election period.
The Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition comprises the country’s three main fact-checking organizations recognized by the International Fact-Checking Network: Fact-Check Ghana (MFWA), Dubawa Ghana (Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development), and Ghana Fact (FactSpace West Africa). The Coalition collaborates with notable civil society organizations, including Africa Check, the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Penplusbyte, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), and the Digital Africa Research Lab.
From December 4-11, 2024, the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition will operate Media Situation Rooms in Accra and Tamale. These rooms will focus on identifying and debunking misinformation and harmful narratives related to the elections across both online and offline platforms.
The Coalition is also collaborating with approximately 50 journalists and over 100 media outlets that publish in about 45 Ghanaian languages. These journalists and media houses will act as partners to republish reports from the Media Situation Room and verify election-related information in their communities.
Kwaku Krobea Asante, Lead Fact-Checker and Senior Programme Officer at the MFWA, stated, “We are excited to launch this coalition after many months of discussions. Now is the perfect time for us to unite and combat misinformation and polarizing narratives that threaten Ghana’s democracy. We hope our collective efforts will contribute to a peaceful and credible election.”
Rabiu Alhassan, Director of FactSpace West Africa, added, “Creating a united front among fact-checkers, the media, and civil society is crucial to countering the threats posed by disinformation. We are pleased to see this coalition come to fruition.”
Roselena Ahiable, Programme Manager of Dubawa, expressed, “Having observed similar coalitions across West Africa, we are thrilled to have joined forces for this initiative. We look forward to making a positive impact during the elections.”
The Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition has received funding support from the US Embassy in Ghana and the Google News Initiative. Additionally, UK-based Full Fact has provided access to its Full Fact AI platform to assist Coalition members in monitoring and combating disinformation.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya