The Ghana Report Summit: Reject fake news — Akufo-Addo tells political leaders
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has admonished political leaders to stop the spread of fake news, particularly as the country prepares for the December 7 elections.
Speaking at the maiden edition of The Ghana Report Summit on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at Kempinski Hotel in Accra, the president reminded political parties of their duty to preserve Ghana’s peace.
“Political parties and candidates have a fiduciary duty to conduct themselves with integrity and honesty. The spread of false information for political gain undermines our democratic process and erodes public trust.
“I urge all political actors to commit to truthfulness and transparency in their campaigns. We must all remember that our actions today can shape the future of our nation.
“Let us engage in constructive dialogue and present our ideas and policies to the electorate in a truthful and respectful manner,” the president said at The Ghana Report Summit on Thursday.
The summit, on the theme “Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation – Election 2024”, brought together thought leaders, policymakers, media professionals, and technology experts to address the challenges associated with information disorder in the Ghanaian media space going into the crucial elections.
President Akufo-Addo further charged politicians to ensure that their campaigns are based on substantive issues and policies rather than on the dissemination of false information and personal attacks.
He stressed that vote-canvassing based on misinformation often exploits societal divisions and amplifies existing tensions, posing a significant risk to social cohesion and potentially inciting violence, while disrupting public order.
According to the president, political leaders need to demonstrate leadership and integrity by rejecting misinformation and disinformation and promoting a culture of honesty and accountability.
“As we approach the 2024 general elections, we have to address these challenges head-on. We should take proactive measures to curb the spread of false information and ensure that the public has access to accurate and reliable information,” he urged.
Reiterating his commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and credible election, the president assured the populace that the polls would be conducted peacefully, transparently, and credibly.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that our elections are conducted in an atmosphere of peace and respect, free of violence and intimidation,” he added.
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Organised by The Ghana Report, a subsidiary of I-ZAR Group, winner of the 2019 Best News Portal of the Year as well as the Best Portal in Corporate Social Responsibilities at the 25th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards, The Ghana Report Summit unravelled the tactics, exposed dangers, and recommended best international practices on information dissemination, especially on social media.
About The Ghana Report Summit
The Ghana Report Summit brought together about 300 participants and speakers to address the challenges associated with disseminating information in the Ghanaian media space, particularly social media, as the country prepares for the crucial 2024 elections.
The summit, organised by The Ghana Report, a subsidiary of I-ZAR Group, and the 2019 Best News Portal of the Year/Best Portal in Corporate Social Responsibilities at the 25th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, featured prominent personalities such as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, as speakers.
It also featured former national security coordinator, Larry Gbevlo-Lartey; Director of Elections and ICT of NDC, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Spokesperson to former President John Mahama, Joyce Bawah Motgari; and Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy.
Others were the regional manager of Csquared West Africa, Estelle Akofio-Sowah, former president of GJA, Roland Affail Monney; the founder of Global Media Alliance, Amb Edward Boateng; IT manager, National Signals Bureau, John Tandoh; CEO of KomsKraft Consult, Gayheart Mensah and CEO of PopOut Digital Solutions, Maximus Ametorgoh.
Also in attendance were guests from various diplomatic missions, government officials, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society groups, religious bodies, and media organizations.