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NTC, Sierra Leone Embassy to collaborate to fight fake news

 The management of New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Ghanaian Times and Spec­tator, and the Sierra Leone High Commission have resolved to col­laborate to fight fake news in the era of evolving media landscape.

This follows an online circula­tion of a fake news item purport­edly carried by the state-owned newspaper in its Friday, January 31, 2025 issue headlined; “SIERRA LEONE COMMISIONER TO GHANA HAS BEEN APPRE­HENDED IN ACCRA WHILE ALLEDEGLY IN POSSESION OF COCAINE.”

The false publication, overlaid on the front page of the newspa­per and circulated online, has since sparked public outcry and tension both locally and internationally.

Upon a visit by the High Com­missioner, Mohamed Hassan Kai­samba, who is also responsible for his country’s diplomatic relations with Togo and Burkina Faso to the Corporation in Accra yester­day, both entities condemned the act, describing it as irresponsible and an affront to Africa’s thriving democracy.

In a remark, the Acting Edi­tor of The Ghanaian Times, Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, maintained that the NTC was committed to combatting falsehood and misin­formation through its publications in order to maintain its credibility and authenticity.

Alhaji Abdul-Rahaman said The Ghanaian Times subscribed to highest journalistic standards of accuracy, fairness and objectivity, insisting that the story attributed to the newspaper was fake and not in line with the paper’s ideals and house style.

He disclosed intentions of management to file an official complaint with the National Cyber Security Authority, the Ghana Police Service, the National Media Commission among other relevant stakeholders to get to the bottom of the matter while tightening in-house cyber protocols to prevent such occurrence in the future.

“We took the decision already to issue a disclaimer on our front page today to that story in order to set the record straight but we are not going to end there. We plan to also write a letter drawing atten­tion of authorities on the matter and possibly copy the embassy in keeping with our credibility and core values,” he stated.

The Ghanaian Times as a state-owned newspaper abides by high ethical and professional standards and this unfortunate incident undermines the dignity of our paper, our President as well as our relationship with Sierra Leone and we are working seriously to get to the bottom of it,” the Acting Editor assured.

The High Commissioner, Mr Kaisamba, expressed appreciation to Management of NTC for their swiftness in debunking the false publication.

“This is nothing more than a deliberate fabrication designed to damage my personal integrity and tarnish the esteemed reputation of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Let me unequivocally state that the High Commissioner, Kaisamba has never engaged in any unlawful or dishonourable conduct that would bring disgrace to himself, his office or the Republic of Sierra Leone,” he maintained.

The High Commissioner expressing concern over the rise in fake news globally charged the NTC not to rest on its oars in keeping with ethical standards of the journalism profession to protect public trust and confidence in them.

He assured of the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with the paper to unravel the truth in the matter at hand while cooperating in other areas in the nearest future for mutual benefit of both organ­isations.

Present at the meeting were some members of the editorial team of the newspaper including the News Editor, Mr Norman Cooper, Head of Business Desk, David Adadevoh, Head of Sports, Andrew Nortey and Sub-desk Editor, Clemence Okumah.

 BY ABIGAIL ANNOH

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