Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo Calls for Vigilance Against Misinformation Ahead of 2024 Elections
Accra, Ghana – Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition of power after the upcoming 2024 general elections. Speaking at the Ghana Report Summit in Accra, themed ‘Combating Misinformation and Disinformation in Election 2024,’ President Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of active citizen engagement, a vibrant civil society, and a free press in Ghana’s democratic progress.
"Our democratic journey has been made possible by the active participation of the citizenry. A robust civil society and a free media. These elements reinforce collectively, Ghana’s reputation as a stable democratic nation," President Akufo-Addo said.
The President also stressed the need to counter misinformation and disinformation, warning that their impact on the electoral outcome is impossible to overstate. He announced that the government has begun engaging with stakeholders and plans to launch a national initiative to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
"It is within this context that, we must address the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation which threatens, and undermines the democratic gains we have made," President Akufo-Addo said.
The President highlighted Ghana’s democratic stability, showcased through its seamless transfer of power between political parties. "The peaceful transition of power is evidenced by the changes in the national political leadership, from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and back, underscores the maturity of our democratic institutions and the resilience of our electoral process," he said.
The Ghana Report Summit aimed to bring together stakeholders to discuss the challenges of misinformation and disinformation in the upcoming elections and to find solutions to mitigate their impact.
