Some selected journalists from various parts of the country have benefited from a 2-day advance course in fact-checking at the offices of the Spanish Embassy in Accra.
The training was aimed at mitigating against the surging rate of information disorder particularly misinformation and disinformation which is becoming rampant in the Ghanaian media space.
The training was organized by the Ghana Journalist Association in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain – Ghana and Casa Africa.
It featured expert facilitators such as international science journalists and fact–checkers from Spain-based Neutral, Maria G. Dionis, journalist and knowledge management coordinator at Maldita, Laura del Rio. Fact-Check Ghana’s Kwaku Krobea Asante and journalist and fact-checker, Anthony Bells Kafui Kanyi.
In an address at the opening ceremony, President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Albert Dwumfour, urged the media to guard against disinformation during the upcoming elections, warning of its potential to undermine the country’s peace.
‘’Disinformation is a real and present danger to our democracy. It can threaten the peace we are currently enjoying in Ghana’’, he stressed.
Mr. Dwumfour emphasized the importance for journalists to fact-check every piece of information they come across, lamenting the rampant spread of false information on social media platforms which is also penetrating the traditional media.
‘’ We are witnessing what some people refer to as exaggerated government achievements where the ruling party is accused of spreading false information about its accomplishments to secure votes and the opposition is criticized for spreading misinformation about the election process to discredit the ruling party’’.
He noted, ‘’disinformation can be used to deceive and manipulate voters, thereby eroding confidence in our elections ‘’.
The Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Angel Lossado-Torres Quevedo, for his part reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s democratic process, underscoring the media’s gatekeeping role in enhancing democracy.
He expressed confidence that the training would help equip journalists with the necessary tools to practice fact-checking every piece of information during the December polls.
Story by: Eric Boateng
