Penplusbytes welcomes the statement made by Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, calling for the urgent need to promote digital literacy to counter misinformation and disinformation that fuels tensions, particularly in fragile and transitional contexts.

These remarks come at a crucial time when Ghana, like many democracies, is grappling with the growing threat of information disorder, which undermines peace, trust, and democratic stability.

The 2024 general elections starkly highlighted the vulnerabilities within Ghana’s information ecosystem. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven disinformation surged, with the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition reporting that approximately 79% of false information during the elections was disseminated through social media platforms. Tactics included the recycling of old photos and videos, smear campaigns, and the weaponization of narratives, especially surrounding sensitive issues like the LGBTQ bill.

In all of this, Penplusbytes, the hub for media and information literacy education, has not relented in its efforts to build the MIL competencies of Ghanaians. Recent activities have focused on empowering rural youth and marginalized communities through innovative civic-tech projects and digital literacy trainings. Under the UNESCO Participation Programme, Penplusbytes trained rural youth leaders across Ghana’s Volta, Oti, and Eastern regions on Media and Information Literacy and Responsible Civic Engagement, equipping them with skills to identify, counter, and prevent the spread of misinformation within their communities.

Additionally, Penplusbytes, with support from the Open Government Partnership (OGP) concluded its review of Ghana’s Legal Framework for addressing Misinformation and Disinformation. This review analyzed key legislation, including the Criminal Offences Act 1960, the Electronic Communications Act 2008, the Cybersecurity Act, and the Right to Information Act and identified significant gaps such as vague legal definitions, limited protections for free expression, and the misuse of laws against journalists and civil society actors.

Our Key Priorities Moving Forward

Penplusbytes agrees with the Minister that promoting digital literacy is crucial, but we emphasize that it is only one part of the broader solution to addressing the complex challenge of information disorder. To build long-term societal resilience against disinformation, we must adopt a holistic, inclusive, and multi-sectoral approach.

As such, Penplusbytes is calling for:

1. Development of Practical National Guidelines on Disinformation: We are spearheading a multi-stakeholder process to co-create actionable, democratic, and rights-based guidelines. These will define the roles and responsibilities of government, the media, digital platforms, civil society, and citizens in preventing, identifying, and responding to disinformation, while safeguarding constitutional freedoms and freedom of expression.
2. Strengthening Early Warning Systems Through Civil Society: We echo the Minister’s call to prioritize community-based, women-led, and youth-led initiatives that can serve as frontline monitors of harmful content. These systems must be integrated into broader peacebuilding and governance mechanisms to ensure timely, localized responses to emerging threats.
3. Integrating Media and Information Literacy (MIL) into the National Education Curriculum: Beyond ad hoc training programmes, we advocate for systemic reform by embedding MIL across basic, secondary, and tertiary education. This will equip future generations with the critical thinking and digital skills needed to navigate information responsibly in an increasingly complex media environment.
4. Expanding Grassroots Digital Literacy Programmes: Building on our successful MIL training for rural youth under the UNESCO Participation Programme, Penplusbytes is committed to scaling up inclusive digital literacy initiatives, especially for women, youth, and underserved communities most vulnerable to disinformation.

A Call to Collaborative Action

Penplusbytes urges government agencies, civil society organizations, media practitioners, tech companies, and international partners to support the development and implementation of Ghana-specific disinformation guidelines. Together, we can foster a democratic digital ecosystem where truth is defended, peace is preserved, and every voice is respected.

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