In anticipation of Ghana’s upcoming 2024 elections, Penplusbytes, in collaboration with Research ICT Africa (RIA) and with support from International Media Support (IMS), will convene key stakeholders in Accra to discuss strategies for countering disinformation. The meeting, titled Planning Meeting for a Coalition of Relevant Stakeholders Working on Countering Disinformation Ahead of the 2024 Elections, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at Central Hotel, Accra.
The event aims to bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including civil society organisations, fact-checking organizations, the Electoral Commission, political parties, media representatives, and national elections security task force, to establish a united coalition against electoral disinformation. Given the growing impact of digital platforms on Ghana’s electoral process, the convened coalition seeks to coordinate an effective, multi-stakeholder response to mitigate the risks posed by disinformation.
“Our objective is to build a collaborative framework that enables effective coordination in identifying, reporting, and countering disinformation to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process,” says Jerry Sam, Executive Director of Penplusbytes. “We are eager to bring key stakeholders together to discuss ways to anticipate and mitigate the potentially lasting effects of disinformation on Ghana’s 2024 elections,” he added.
Ghana’s reputation as a stable democracy in Africa is increasingly tested by the threat of disinformation. During the meeting, participants will focus on sharing best practices, developing a comprehensive unified action plan, and establishing a framework for monitoring and evaluation to ensure the coalition’s ongoing effectiveness.
The planning meeting marks an important step toward strengthening Ghana’s resilience against disinformation and promoting an informed and peaceful electoral process. By the end of the session, Penplusbytes anticipates having developed a strategic roadmap for stakeholder collaboration, with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and timelines for all stakeholders involved.
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Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization driving change through innovations in the following key areas: using new digital technologies to enable good governance and accountability, new media and innovations, climate and well-being, and enhancing oversight for effective utilisation of mining, oil and gas revenue and resources
