Penplusbytes hosts inaugural Youth against Disinformation Conference

Penplusbytes, in collaboration with Youth Kommunity, has hosted the inaugural "Youth against Disinformation Conference" as part of the 2024 Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week.

The conference, held on October 24, at the Mikaddo Conference Centre in Accra, brought together key stakeholders to tackle the pressing issue of disinformation, particularly as Ghana approaches the 2024 general elections.

Supported by UNESCO Ghana and DW Akademie, the event focused on equipping the youth with the tools necessary to combat the rise of misinformation and disinformation, which are growing threats to Ghana's democratic processes.

The keynote address, delivered on behalf of UNESCO Ghana’s Head, Mr. Edmond Moukala, by Mr. Carl Ampah, the National Programme Officer for Culture, underlined the importance of media literacy in today’s digital landscape.

"It is essential to equip people to critically separate facts from misinformation," Mr. Ampah said.

He stressed that, especially in an election year, the rise of false information poses a real danger, urging the youth to make effective use of fact-checking tools and to be mindful of the information they share.

The conference also featured insights from Jerry Sam, the Executive Director of Penplusbytes, who underscored the growing complexity of verifying information in the digital age.

While acknowledging the cost and challenges of fact-checking, he encouraged participants to exercise caution before sharing news.

"It’s not difficult to tell what’s fake if we take a moment to verify. We should not be in a rush to share information," he advised, adding that disinformation has deep, adverse effects on society, particularly in an election year, where it can lead to violence.

Throughout the conference, participants engaged in a capacity-building session aimed at enhancing their critical thinking skills to assess information accurately.

The event provided a platform for youth advocates, the National Peace Council, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and Amnesty International Ghana to explore how disinformation influences electoral decisions and how young people can be agents of change in curbing its spread.

Dr. Imrana Mohammed, Director of Programmes at NCCE, highlighted the challenges posed by disinformation on social media and its potential to sway public opinion unfairly.

“This message should go beyond this room,” Dr. Mohammed remarked and added “We must share our knowledge to curb the spread of fake news. Let’s vote based on issues, not misinformation.”

In his remarks, Francis Oko Armah, President of Youth Kommunity, emphasised the critical role young people play in building informed communities.

“This conference is about using information responsibly ahead of the 2024 general election. We believe in a community of young people learning from each other to develop their community, and that involves responsible sharing of information,” he stated.

The conference ended with a call to action for Ghanaian youth to take charge of shaping the country's political discourse by critically evaluating campaign messages and forming coalitions that contribute to national development.

As the 2024 general elections approach, the need for responsible information-sharing is more important than ever, and events like the "Youth Against Disinformation Conference" serve as a reminder that an informed, vigilant youth can safeguard democracy.

Penplusbytes, through this initiative, is not only promoting media literacy but also empowering the next generation to actively combat disinformation, ensuring a more peaceful and transparent election season.