Political campaigns based on misinformation pose a significant threat to Ghana’s democracy – Akufo- Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stressed the need for political parties to focus on policies during campaigns instead of personal attacks.

Speaking at the Inaugural Ghana Report Summit on August 1, 2024, he said campaigns based on misinformation pose a significant threat to Ghana’s democracy explaining that they often exploit societal divisions and amplify existing tensions.

“Political parties should stick to truthfulness during their campaigns. The key is to engage in dialogue, and campaigns should be about policies, not on personal attacks,” he explained.

He said the government will come up with a national plan to deal with emerging threats to our democracy.

“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.

The government recognizes the need to work with stakeholders to combat misinformation and disinformation. We will launch nationwide campaigns to promote media literacy and fact-checking and also come up with a national action plan to combat misinformation and disinformation. It will outline strategic steps to promote an informed and engaged citizenry,” he stated.

He gave the assurance that the pending elections would be free, fair, transparent, and credible.

“The 2024 elections would be free, credible, fair, and transparent. The security agencies will ensure that all political activities are conducted peacefully. We will need to educate citizens and empower voters to make informed decisions and to participate in the elections,” he noted.

He said that Ghana’s ability to uphold democracy by organising 8 credible elections has gained international recognition.

“Ghana stands proud as a beacon of democracy in Africa. After conducting 8 successful elections, this underscores the resilience of our electoral processes and reinforces our reputation as having a stable democracy,” he stated.

He entreated the media to cultivate a culture of accurate and responsible reporting in the pending general elections.

“Journalists should cross-check their facts; media houses must always prioritize fact-checking and identify and remove false information. It is important to verify information; each of us has a responsibility to fight fake news.”

“By educating citizens, we can empower them to make informed decisions and to reject false information.”

“The public should participate in the democratic process by exercising their right to vote. Let us reaffirm our commitment to free, fair elections,” he stated.

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