MfWA completes two-day media training to empower journalists combat mis/disinformation ahead of 2024 elections

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MfWA) has concluded a two-day intensive training program aimed at equipping journalists with the tools and knowledge necessary to counter misinformation, disinformation and propaganda narratives ahead of the upcoming 2024 Elections in Ghana.

Hosted at the Sunlodge Hotel in Accra on February 22nd and 23rd, the training focused on various aspects of countering misinformation, including understanding the organic spread of false claims on social media platforms, identifying and countering online conspiracy theories and hate speech, recognizing state-sponsored or politically-driven disinformation campaigns, and implementing effective counter-disinformation measures and tactics.

A highlight of the training was the introduction to the UK Government’s counter-disinformation toolkit, RESIST, presented by a team from the UK Government Communication Service International.

The team led by Matthew Otubu, a Senior Strategist at the UK Cabinet Office, introduced participating journalists provided into the toolkit’s uses and how to identify and develop responses to counter misinformation effectively.

Kwaku Krobea Asante, Fact-check Lead at MFWA, led a session on fact-checking specifically tailored for the context of the 2024 Elections.

Participants gained a deeper understanding of the triggers and actors of information disorder during elections, learned strategies for countering misinformation and polarizing narratives, and discussed ways to enhance the media’s role in promoting information hygiene during the electoral period.

The session concluded with participants developing a work plan for peace messaging and fact-based reporting.

Adizatu Moro Maiga, Programme Officer for Media and Good Governance at MFWA, emphasized the importance of such training initiatives, particularly in the lead-up to elections. She highlighted MFWA’s commitment to promoting peaceful and fact-based elections and stressed the role of journalists as key actors in ensuring the dissemination of credible information.

“The feedback from journalists in previous trainings has been phenomenal. Many media houses have started fact-checking initiatives and produced programs to educate the public about misinformation. As we enter an election year, it is imperative that journalists are equipped to provide accurate and credible information to the public,” she noted.

Adizatu further expressed expectations for the trained journalists to uphold the standards of factual reporting and to act as gatekeepers against the spread of misinformation.