Open Foundation West Africa engages journalists to combat misinformation ahead of December polls

Open Foundation West Africa (OFWA), in collaboration with the Wikimedia Foundation and Code for Africa, has organized a one-day forum to equip journalists with the tools to combat misinformation and disinformation during the upcoming December elections in Ghana.

The forum, held as part of efforts to promote accurate reporting, focused on enhancing journalists' ability to identify and address false information in their line of duty.

Jael Serwaa Boateng, the Executive Director of Open Foundation West Africa, underscored the critical role of journalists in ensuring peaceful elections through accurate reporting.

Speaking in an interview, she urged media practitioners to prioritize fact-checking in their election coverage to avoid misleading the public.

"Fact-checking is a key responsibility for election journalists. It helps to maintain credibility and prevents the dissemination of false information that could disrupt peace," she stated.

Open Foundation West Africa plans to hold an edit-a-thon on December 8, where volunteer editors will collaborate to create and update content on Wikipedia using information supplied by media outlets during the December 7 polls. This event is expected to contribute to the availability of factual election-related content online.

Ms. Boateng also highlighted the dangers of misinformation, recounting a past incident where false information was added to the President's Wikipedia page due to unreliable sources.

She emphasized the importance of reducing the spread of false information and ensuring that content shared on platforms like Wikipedia remains accurate and trustworthy.

This initiative by Open Foundation West Africa reflects its commitment to fostering responsible journalism and promoting the dissemination of credible information during the election period.