Fact-checking isn't enough to curb disinformation; we need regulations – NMC

Mr. George Sarpong, the Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), has reiterated the need for Ghana to have proper regulatory measures to eradicate disinformation and misinformation.

Misleading and incorrect information becomes dangerous, however, when its target is to deliberately deceive or influence people it turns out to be the most harmful disinformation.

The country, just as any other place in the world, is also struck by the menace of this malicious practice, which at some point in time leads to civil war and even murder.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), themed "Misinformation, Peace, and Democracy" on Wednesday, March 22, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, Mr. Sarpong says fact-checking and media information literacy alone can never be able to curb the troubling practice.

He explained that, though the practice of fact-checkers cannot be overemphasized, it only comes when the damage has already been done.

While delivering the keynote address at the forum, Mr. Sarpong stressed debunking claims that regulating the social media space and activities is undemocratic.

He maintained that it would be the most effective way to sanitize the system and do away with misinformation.

"Fact-checking and media information literacy can help address misinformation, but they have limitations. It can only be done after the harm has already been done."

According to him, the activities of fact-checkers mostly leave some claims unchecked, which makes people believe that they are automatically true, which is not true in many cases.

"It is also becoming the validator of unchecked facts, which may also be true," he emphasised.