The West Africa Centre for Counter Extremism (WACCE) has held a two-day capacity building program in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, to combat misinformation and hate speech ahead of the 2024 elections.
The event brought together media personnel, political party communicators, and youth groups from across the region to promote peaceful elections.
Dr. Sadiq Adu-Twum, a WACCE fellow, emphasized the importance of elections in democratic dispensation, citing the potential for election violence and conflict in Africa.
He highlighted the three phases of elections – pre-election, during election, and post-election – and stressed the need to sensitize the public to avoid violence during the pre-election phase.
“The pre-election phase is crucial in setting the tone for the entire electoral process,” Dr. Adu-Twum noted.
He emphasized that’s, “It’s during this period that political parties and their supporters often engage in heated campaigns, which can sometimes lead to violence and intimidation. By sensitizing the public on the need to avoid violence, we can create a more peaceful and democratic electoral process.”
The program featured interactive sessions and presentations on fact-checking, media literacy; as participants learned how to identify and counter misinformation and hate speech, and how to promote peaceful elections throughout their work.
The capacity building program was part of a larger project implemented by WACCE and WANEP, with funding support from the Danish Embassy.
The project aims at promoting peaceful and democratic elections in Ghana.
By empowering media personnel, political party communicators, and youth groups with the skills to combat misinformation and hate speech, WACCE is contributing to a more peaceful and democratic electoral process in the Upper East Region and beyond.
