Why Ghana’s Children Need Media and Information Literacy – Now More Than Ever

As screen time surges among Ghana’s youth, so too does the risk of mis/disinformation, digital manipulation and harmful content. The children, some barely out of primary school, are spending hours online, consuming everything from viral dance trends to conspiracy theories. And without the tools to critically evaluate what they see, the line between fiction and fact, entertainment and reality, is quickly fading. During a recent tour of basic schools in the Greater Accra Region, part of a media and information literacy outreach led by Penplusbytes, the scale of the problem came into sharp focus. Using an interactive tool - the TruthQuest game - the programme aimed to teach pupils in basic schools how to assess sources, spot fake news, and create media responsibly. For many students, it was their first encounter with the concept that not everything online is trustworthy. This publication assesses the problem and proffers tested solutions for Ghanaian children, Education policymakers, parents/caregivers and schools.