The National Commission for Civil Education (NCCE) has urged the public to cross-check the accuracy of information they see on social media platforms during this election period.
According to the Director of Programmes of the NCCE, Dr Imurana Mohammed, there is a surge in misinformation, disinformation and hate speech on social media.
Speaking at the launch on Election 2024 peace campaign in Accra at the weekend, he said, this was so because of the reach of social media and how easy it could be used to spread information.
The campaign, spearheaded by Time To Think Foundation (TTTF), a Ghanaian-based non-profit organisation, and the NCCE was on the theme; ‘Unity in Diversity: Building a Peaceful Democratic Future.’
Dr Mohammed noted that, the campaign sought to promote tolerance, civic education and violence mitigation strategies among the public in the lead up to the polls through capacity building, advocacy, awareness creation and collaborative early warning mechanisms.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the TTTF, Mr Richard Kofi Akosah, highlighted that Ghanaians needed to guard against complacency despite successful conduct of eight general election since it returned to multi- party democracy in 1992.
“There are the realities of increased polarisation and tensions between political parties, global youth disillusionment, and the spread of misinformation as we encounter them on social media, among others.
Mr Akosah stated that, the campaign would focus on voter rights, responsibilities, importance of peaceful and responsible political participation, particularly among the youth and women.
Additionally, he said the campaign would also touch on marginalised groups, participation in the electoral process, including voting and post-election monitoring.
The Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, in a speech read on his behalf by the Public Relations Office of (NPC), Mr Kafui Nutsu, said the country was currently battling with over 400 conflicts covering politics, religion, land and chieftaincy.
He expressed the hope that the campaign would promote intercultural understanding and dialogue, foster inclusive citizenship and civic engagement, empower marginalised communities, and encourage peaceful conflict resolution in the country.
“One of the most significant impacts of misinformation on us, as Ghanaians is the erosion of trust in the democratic system. When the public are bombarded with false information, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to make informed decisions. This undermines the very foundation of democracy and leaves them feeling disillusioned and manipulated,” he said.
BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA
