African leaders urged to unite in fight against digital disinformation

Kwaku Krobea Asante, Team Lead at Fact-Check Ghana, is calling on all 54 African nations to come together to address the rising dangers of disinformation on digital platforms.

Speaking on ABC IN THE MORNING on November 5, 2024, he emphasized, “It’s about time that we sit down and say in terms of the impact of your platform affecting the dignity of lives, people’s human rights, and so these are the standards we expect from you.”

This statement highlights the need for collective action as the continent faces an information crisis ahead of the 2024 elections.

Asante’s message comes at a critical juncture, with misinformation and disinformation threatening the electoral process.

He noted, “If all 54 countries come together with the influence and numbers, maybe we will be able to reach a point where the digital platforms will be held responsible.”

Drawing a comparison with Europe, he cited the implementation of the Digital Services Act, which holds digital platforms accountable for illegal content. “Sadly, we have not been able to do that in our part of the world,” he lamented, urging African nations to demand similar standards.

The context of this call to action is compounded by the current political climate. As Ghana prepares for its upcoming elections, the proliferation of misinformation remains a pressing concern.

Recent initiatives by the National Media Commission (NMC) highlight the urgency of addressing this issue.

At a forum organized by the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), plans for a new “media watch app” were unveiled to combat false information as the polls approach.

Asante stressed that social media platforms must extend the same seriousness towards African elections as they do to the electoral processes in Europe and America.

“If you see the preparedness that Meta and X are preparing to fight against disinformation during the U.S. elections, you will be marveled,” he said.

“But Ghana’s election is a month away, and you don’t see any preparation towards that.”

As the December 7 polls draw closer, the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation only intensify.

The government’s 2023 National Action Plan aims to enhance media literacy, strengthen fact-checking mechanisms, and promote ethical journalism, yet its impact remains to be seen.

With the media landscape flooded with inaccurate content, Asante’s call for a united African front in the fight against misinformation is both timely and essential for ensuring a fair electoral process.

“People are picking information from many angles, as media has made it easier to put things out there with no verification,” he cautioned, reminding us all of the critical need for vigilance in this digital age.