Gov’t to hold Seminar on Impact of Disinformation

In a bid to address the rising challenges of misinformation and disinformation in the digital age, government is set to host a high-profile seminar dubbed “Impact of Disinformation on Electoral Integrity, Peace, and Security in Africa”.

The seminar, scheduled for October 19, 2023, will be held at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC).

Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah disclosed this in a video announcement on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

“Until recently, the media was fully within the control of government, but since 1993 when Ghana entered a democratic dispensation, the media has been liberalized. In Ghana today, we boast about 700 radio stations, hundreds of television stations, thousands of online publication outlets, and scores of print publications.

“Our media has become robust and dynamic, but it is in the midst of this robust and dynamic media environment that we are realizing that misinformation and disinformation are growing,” he said.

He said in the current age where communication plays a pivotal role in human life, there is the pressing need to combat the pervasive issues of misinformation and disinformation due to their inherent risks hence, the need for the seminar.

The seminar, organized by the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, in collaboration with International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, aims to assess the impact of disinformation on electoral integrity in Ghana and Africa as a whole. It will investigate the link between digitalization and disinformation, assess security threats, explore stakeholder roles, and promote international collaboration in countering disinformation.

Among the expected outcomes of the seminar is the signing of a declaration by key stakeholders, outlining strategies and recommendations to combat the adverse effects of disinformation on electoral integrity, peace, and security.

The event will be attended by a diverse range of participants, including government institutions, political parties, media organizations, civil society groups, fact-checking organizations, and international bodies.