Albert Dwumfour opens GJA/Spanish Embassy Disinformation and Fact-checking Training for Journalists 

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has inaugurated a disinformation forum for journalists under the theme: “Advanced Course on Disinformation and Fact-Checking During the Election Process for Ghanaian Journalists.”

In his opening remarks, Mr. Dwumfour urged the media to remain vigilant against disinformation during the upcoming elections, warning of its potential to undermine Ghana’s democracy and peace.

“Disinformation is a real and present danger to our democracy. It can threaten the peace we are currently enjoying in Ghana,” he emphasized.

As the leader of the country’s journalism umbrella body, Mr. Dwumfour highlighted his primary concern: the safety and effective performance of journalists before, during, and after the elections.

“We have a constitutionally mandated duty to shape the narrative of this election. Our audiences—readers, listeners, and viewers—must be well-informed to make sound decisions at the polls,” he stated.

He further stressed the importance of fact-checking in an era where misinformation spreads rapidly, warning that it could destabilize democratic institutions. “If we competently verify information and debunk false claims, we help promote transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making among citizens,” Mr. Dwumfour explained.

He called on journalists to prioritize accurate reporting to enable voters to discern truth from falsehoods in choosing both presidential and parliamentary candidates.

The GJA President also commended the Spanish Embassy for organizing the workshop, urging participating journalists to take the training seriously and apply fact-checking tools to combat election-related disinformation.

The Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Ángel Lossada-Torres Quevedo, reaffirmed Spain's commitment to supporting Ghana’s democratic processes. He underscored the media's role as gatekeepers of democracy and expressed confidence that the training would equip journalists to practice fact-based reporting during the December 7 elections.

The two-day workshop, organized by the Spanish Embassy and Casa África in collaboration with the GJA, features expert facilitators, including international science journalist and fact-checker María G. Dionis; journalist and knowledge management coordinator at Maldita, Laura del Río; media and communications professional Kwaku Krobea Asante; and journalist and fact-checking expert Anthony Bells Kafui Kanyi.

Participants, including journalists and editors, will be trained in advanced disinformation management and fact-checking techniques to enhance their capacity for accurate reporting during the electoral process.

Source: newsflashafrica.com