By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah
Accra, Nov. 20, GNA – Open Foundation West Africa (OFWA), in partnership with Wikimedia Foundation and Code for Africa, has trained journalists to combat misinformation and disinformation ahead of the 2024 general election.
The purpose of the training was to uphold democratic integrity by equipping journalists with the skills to identify and verify facts, deliver accurate and unbiased reporting, empower voters with information, counter false narratives, maintain ethical standards, and strengthen the information ecosystem in support of free, fair, and transparent elections.
Mrs. Jael Serwaa Boateng, Executive Director of OFWA, said the Foundation was implementing a project titled “Ghana Poll 2024,” aimed at providing accurate and reliable election-related information through Wikipedia and other Wikimedia platforms.
As part of the project, she explained, media professionals and volunteer editors are being trained to identify and combat misinformation and disinformation.
The training includes techniques for spotting false information, fact-checking, and correcting inaccuracies.
Mrs. Boateng also announced that on December 8, the Foundation would host an “edit-a-thon” at their premises, bringing together volunteer editors to create and enhance election-related content on Wikipedia.
She said that the effort would rely on verified information from various media outlets to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the content.
“Prior to this training, we observed a concerning trend involving the President of Ghana’s Wikipedia page, where individuals had been adding false information.
“This issue arose because certain media outlets published false information about the President, which was subsequently picked up by individuals from the opposition party and posted on Wikipedia,” she added.
Mrs. Boateng stated that the goal of the Foundation’s efforts was to minimize the spread of false information and to ensure that content on Wikipedia remained accurate and reliable.
By addressing misinformation at its source and promoting responsible information sharing, she said that OFWA sought to maintain Wikipedia’s credibility as a trusted resource for all users.
Mr. Martins Ayotunde, a fact-checker and media trainer with Code for Africa, explained that fact-checking was an investigative process designed to verify information, and journalists played a crucial role in providing evidence-based reporting and accurate testimony.
Given the rise in false information across various platforms, he pointed out that fact-checking had become an essential part of modern journalism.
Mr. Ayotunde also warned that misinformation during elections could have serious consequences, such as inciting conflict, disrupting economies, and triggering refugee crises.
He said that deliberately fabricated information could mislead both the media and the public, exacerbating tensions and undermining democratic processes.
“False information is likely to have an impact on the conduct of votes, and even influence the choices of the populations,” he added.
To identify credible claims, Mr. Ayotunde emphasized the importance of maintaining an active presence across various social media platforms, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
This, he explained, allows for real-time monitoring and the ability to spot emerging trends in misinformation.
GNA