As Ghana prepares for the 2024 elections, Minister of Information Hon. Fatimatu Abubakar has underscored the urgent need to address the pervasive issues of misinformation and disinformation.
Speaking to the media in Accra on Friday, Hon. Abubakar highlighted recent developments and ongoing efforts to tackle these challenges.
At the Ghana Report Summit, President Akufo-Addo raised concerns about the spread of rumors and false news, urging all stakeholders, including political entities and social groups, to avoid disseminating misleading information.
Hon. Abubakar echoed these sentiments and announced a significant step forward, the submission of a draft strategy and national action plan to the Cabinet.
This initiative, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement during the tenure of her predecessor, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, aims to create a comprehensive framework to combat misinformation and disinformation.
The strategy, formulated with input from political parties, fact-checking institutions, media owners, editors, and civil society organizations, was presented during a stakeholder engagement session on October 19, 2023.
"We identified two main factors contributing to the spread of misinformation: the absence of accurate information and the rapid dissemination of disinformation," said Hon. Abubakar.
"Our six-point strategy addresses these issues by focusing on science, social issues, factual political reporting, and policy development."
The proposed measures include enhancing fact-checking mechanisms and adopting a proactive approach to information dissemination.
"We must fill the information vacuum with accurate facts to prevent falsehoods and rumors from taking hold," Hon. Abubakar emphasized.
The draft strategy and national action plan are now under Cabinet review, with further scrutiny and validation to follow.
Hon. Abubakar expressed optimism that these efforts would lead to a more informed electorate and a healthier media environment as the nation approaches the 2024 elections.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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