#GhanaDecides2024: CJID Deploys Team To Counter Election Misinformation
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) says its team of fact-checkers aims to strengthen trust, encourage informed participation, and create a peaceful electoral environment in Ghana.
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development [CJID] and its fact-checking subsidiary, DUBAWA, have deployed a team of fact-checkers, observers, and open source intelligence (OSINT) analysts to Ghana ahead of its 2024 general election.
The general election to elect a new president and members of parliament is expected to be held today, Dec. 7.
According to a statement by Akintunde Babatunde, Programme Director at CJID, a total of 19 experts are deployed through the organisation’s Media in National Elections [MiNE] initiative and verification campaign with a focus on combating the influx of fake news in the country.
This, according to him, is part of the think-thank initiative aimed at ensuring a transparent, credible, and inclusive electoral process in West Africa.
He added that CJID has also launched three situation rooms in Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi to enable rapid verification and prompt responses to misleading claims capable of inciting violence or swaying voters.
Akintunde said Dubawa, a fact-checking arm of CJID, had earlier found evidence of political propaganda aimed at manipulating public opinion ahead of the polls on social media. To address this challenge, the centre is collaborating with the Ghana Fact-checking Coalition, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and other tech partners, including Meta and TikTok.
“By working together, citizens and institutions can uphold democratic values and safeguard Ghana’s longstanding reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies,” Akintunde explained.
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and its subsidiary, DUBAWA, have deployed a team of experts to Ghana for the 2024 general election to combat fake news. A total of 19 professionals will be part of the Media in National Elections (MiNE) initiative to ensure a fair electoral process.
CJID has set up three situation rooms in Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi for rapid verification and response to misinformation. This initiative is in collaboration with the Ghana Fact-checking Coalition and other partners, including Meta and TikTok. By collaborating, the aim is to maintain democratic values and Ghana's stability as a democracy in West Africa.
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