As Ghana approaches its 2024 general elections, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and its fact-checking subsidiary, DUBAWA, are scaling up their initiatives to ensure a transparent, credible, and inclusive electoral process.
READ ALSO: Fact-checking as key to detect fake news
CJID has deployed 19 observers, fact-checkers, and OSINT analysts to monitor and verify information circulating ahead of the December polls. These personnel are working through the organization’s Media in National Elections (MiNE) initiative and verification campaigns, focusing on countering misinformation and disinformation that could undermine public trust in the electoral outcome.
In two newly released reports, CJID provides insights into citizens’ perceptions of the electoral environment as well as patterns and threats posed by misinformation and disinformation. Additionally, CJID’s Digital Technology, AI, and Information Disorder Analysis Centre (DAIDAC) has identified online trends threatening electoral integrity. In the latest article published by DUBAWA Ghana (“Agyapadie Circus: A Make-Believe Toxic Politico-Ethnic Document for Election”), DUBAWA found evidence of political propaganda spreading on social media ahead of the polls. DUBAWA Ghana has also successfully debunked AI-generated deepfake content circulating on social media platforms, further exposing the novel tactics used to manipulate public opinion.
To address these challenges, CJID is collaborating closely with the Ghana Fact-checking Coalition, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and tech partners, including META and TikTok. Three situation rooms have been established in Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi, enabling real-time monitoring, rapid verification, and prompt responses to misleading claims that could sway voters or incite tension.
“Our goal is to strengthen trust, encourage informed participation, and ensure a peaceful electoral environment,” said Akintunde Babatunde, Director of Programs at CJID. “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.”
With these coordinated efforts, CJID and its partners are poised to play a pivotal role in promoting electoral integrity, boosting voter confidence, and preserving the credibility of Ghana’s democratic process ahead of the pivotal 2024 elections.
