Paradigm initiative leads Digital Rights Forum for Ghana's 2024 elections

Ahead of Ghana’s 2024 general elections, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), in collaboration with Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-Ghana), the E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA), and the Internet Society Ghana Chapter (ISOC Ghana), has organised the Ghana edition of the Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Meetings (DREAM) in Accra.

Known as the National Integrity Forum, the event sought to ensure that Ghanaians had reliable, independent access to information throughout the election period.

The forum convened a diverse group of participants, including members of civil society, government, academia, media, political parties, and tech organizations, to address pressing concerns like misinformation and internet restrictions that could impact election transparency. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of responsible communication, truthful information dissemination, and reliable internet access to promote fair elections.

Following the event, Khadijah El-Usman, Regional Lead for Anglophone Africa at Paradigm Initiative, stressed the critical role of digital rights in election credibility, urging all stakeholders to uphold these rights for a fair and democratic process.

Paradigm Initiative Executive Director, Gbenga Sesan highlighted the need for prompt, accurate information to combat misinformation and ensure election transparency, stating, "Timely and truthful information is vital to prevent the spread of misinformation." He called on the Electoral Commission to play a proactive role in curbing fake news and hate speech.

Richard Kasu, Development Specialist at CFF, underscored that timely information from the Electoral Commission is essential to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process, and stressed that collaboration among all stakeholders can help prevent misinformation and promote transparency.

Commitments were made by representatives from various parties to responsibly communicate with their constituents, refraining from any incitement or misrepresentation, and pledging to maintain peace before, during, and after the elections. Participants reiterated the significance of digital rights and media freedom as foundations for a credible election process.

The forum produced several key recommendations, including the implementation of grassroots educational initiatives on digital rights and electoral processes. Participants advocated for a code of conduct for media operations to ensure responsible journalism and called on the government to publicly commit to refraining from internet restrictions during the elections.

Development partners and the international community were encouraged to actively monitor Ghana’s digital rights landscape and support efforts to enhance transparency and accountability.

The forum also highlighted the need for fake news detection systems and clear content guidelines for online platforms, created in collaboration with social media providers, to manage election-related misinformation.

The forum recommended a review of the Ghanaian Constitution to strengthen accountability and impartiality in the electoral process, particularly concerning appointment procedures within key institutions.

Attendees emphasised the need to remain vigilant in safeguarding Ghana’s democratic values, drawing attention to emerging threats that could compromise Ghana's democratic integrity.

These recommendations underscore the commitment of all involved parties to protect digital rights and ensure a transparent, democratic election in Ghana.