Countering hate speech and misinformation- UNESCO kickstarts regional trainings for journalist ahead of 2024 elections

This happens alongside the proliferation of hate speech, abusive campaign rhetoric in various media, and reported cases of electoral malpractices. As the country approaches its next election, there is an urgent need to address these challenges, particularly the rise of hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation.

In line with the United Nations in Ghana common approach for the upcoming 2024 Ghana elections, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Ghana recently conducted the first of a series of regional trainings designed for journalist working on election coverage and election related issues for journalists in Accra. The comprehensive training, with support of the UNESCO Multi Donor Program on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, under the theme: “Elections in Digital Age: Countering Hate Speech & Misinformation on Social Media Platforms for Peaceful Election seeks to train journalist on international standards for human rights, freedom of expression, and press freedom, with a focus on the impact of digital technologies on elections.

The Country Representative for UNESCO in Accra, Mr. Edmond Moukala underscored the critical importance of equipping media professionals with essential skills and the training's significance in preparing journalists for Ghana's upcoming December elections. “Let me stress that the values of journalism, truth, fairness, and integrity are more important than ever as we work together, comrades … as journalists, you have a duty to engage with diverse audiences, present information in a way that is accessible to all and display a high level of professionalism in covering gender-sensitive issues during elections” he said.

“The issue that we want to amend within this particular conversation is the protection of the integrity of the electoral process and each time we talk about electoral violence for some very strange reason we think about the physical one. But electoral violence goes beyond somebody slapping somebody …they include the activities or circumstances that discredit the electoral institution and disenfranchise people from the electoral process” stated the lecturer at the University of Ghana, Department of Communication Studies, Dr. Aurelia Ayisi during her training session.

Other expert trainers included; the Head of the Department of Liberal Arts and Communication of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Dr. Wilberforce S. Dzisah , and team lead of Fact-Check Ghana, Media Foundation for West Africa, Mr Kweku Krobea Asante, gave the participants a comprehensive training. 

The training session in Accra also featured presentations by the Peace and Development Adviser at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office,  Madam Angeline Ngeudjue, on the UN and Ghana elections, while the Public Information Assistant, Madam Majorie Otu of the UN Information Centre presented the "I Pledge for Peace" Campaign, a UN in Ghana and National Peace Council campaign which calls on all Ghanaians to publicly pledge for peace and by extension, a peaceful election.

Participants lauded the training for enhancing their skills in international human rights standards, freedom of expression, and the media's pivotal role in elections. They noted its relevance in navigating digital landscapes, including social media, AI, Big Data, and Machine Learning, to responsibly cover elections and counter harmful content while promoting freedom of expression.

The next training sessions are scheduled for Kumasi and Tamale, underscoring UNESCO's commitment to empowering journalists across Ghana.