Penplusbytes, with support from UNESCO under its participation programme, has launched an eight-month MIL capacity-building initiative themed “Building Media Literacy and Empowering Rural Youth in Ghana,” aimed at equipping youth leaders in rural communities with essential media and information literacy (MIL) skills to identify misinformation and disinformation, think critically, and promote civic responsibility.
With the growing influence of digital platforms and the spread of false information, rural youth are particularly vulnerable due to their limited access to accurate and reliable content. This initiative directly addresses this challenge by empowering youth leaders to become media literacy champions in their communities, fostering civic engagement through community dialogues with local authorities, and reactivating the popular #SpotTheFake social media campaign to promote responsible media consumption and digital responsibility.
Running from March to November 2025, the project will directly benefit youth leaders drawn from the Eastern, Oti and Volta regions and subsequently extend its impact nationwide through online campaigns and strategic partnerships. All activities are designed to be inclusive, participatory, and grounded in the realities of rural Ghana.
Touching on the training modules, Precious Ankomah, Head of Programmes at Penplusbytes, hinted that participants will be introduced to various concepts to help them build resilience against mis/disinformation.
“The training modules have been carefully curated to address the digital and media needs of selected participants. Participants will engage in courses covering topics such as media and information literacy and its importance in our democracy, how to be ethical consumers of media content, and how to design youth-focused MIL awareness campaigns among others” she stated.
This project forms part of Penplusbytes’ ongoing commitment to strengthening media and information literacy, civic participation, and digital resilience in Ghana.
About Penplusbytes www.penplusbytes.org
Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organisation driving change through innovations in three key areas: using new digital technologies to enable good governance and accountability, new media and innovations, and enhancing media oversight for effective utilisation of mining, oil and gas revenue and resources.
For any press enquiries, please contact
Mercy Aba Blankson
Email: aba.blankson@penplusbytes.org
Tel: +233 (0) 302 922620/1, +233 (0) 302 798995
Location: 20 Oshie Road, Osu Ako-Adjei, Accra, Ghana
