Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has called on Ghanaians to exercise caution regarding the information they receive and share, especially as the nation approaches the December elections.
She emphasized that combating misinformation and disinformation before, during, and after the elections is crucial to safeguarding the country’s peace and democracy.
Ms. Addy shared this caution during an interview with the media on the sidelines of the “Civic Fest,” an engagement with Senior High Schools’ Civic Education Clubs held in Accra over the weekend. The event, organized by the NCCE with support from the European Union (EU), aimed to educate the youth on their civic duties and responsibilities, empowering them to contribute to a peaceful election.
Ms. Addy highlighted the importance of curbing misinformation, particularly as the elections draw near, noting that it requires commitment, self-discipline, and conscious efforts from all citizens to avoid sharing information that could incite violence or unrest.
“The thing with misinformation, fake news, and all of those things is that it starts and stops with us,” she said. “When something falls into your inbox or appears on your timeline that is likely false or intended to cause chaos, let it end with you. Don’t forward it. If we all commit to that action alone, the problem of misinformation will decrease significantly.”
As part of the Commission’s efforts towards a peaceful election, various activities and engagements with interest groups are being carried out. These efforts are part of the “Women and Youth in Democracy” initiative, a collaboration between the EU and the NCCE, under the theme “Together We Can Build Ghana, So Get Involved.”
One key initiative is the reactivation of the Commission’s Inter-party Dialogue Committees in districts across the country, aimed at resolving conflicts locally before they escalate into major issues.
“These committees, composed of representatives from political parties, faith-based institutions, traditional authorities, and security personnel, work at the district level to address political misunderstandings before they become significant problems,” Ms. Addy explained.
Additionally, the NCCE is engaging political party youth activists and in-school youth on the importance of protecting and sustaining Ghana’s democracy. The Commission is also revitalizing civic education clubs in Senior High Schools across the country, many of which had become inactive due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Addy urged alumni of these schools to support the civic education clubs in achieving their goals.
During the Civic Fest, students presented artwork on four thematic areas—religious intolerance, misinformation, election violence, and the monetization of politics—demonstrating their understanding of key issues relevant to the upcoming elections.
Participating schools included Achimota SHS, Presbyterian Boys’ SHS, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Accra High SHS, Labone SHS, Accra Academy, Saint Mary’s SHS, Odogorno SHS, Armed Forces SHS, and Accra Girls SHS.
Ms. Slyvia Tizzi, Programmes Officer at the EU Delegation to Ghana, emphasized the importance of youth participation in democracy and commended the NCCE for creating a platform for dialogue, allowing the youth to access information and engage meaningfully in the country’s democratic and electoral processes.