By Clifford Okyere
Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has hinted that the stark reality in today’s world is that social media, which empowers citizens, has been galvanised as a tool to undermine the integrity of the electoral processes.
“Coordinated attacks, driven by disinformation and misinformation and the distortion of reality, are increasingly being employed by those who seek to subvert and manipulate the will of the people.”
The Minister said this at a seminar on the impact of disinformation on electoral integrity, peace, and security in Africa at the International Conference Centre in Accra.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Information in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
It aims to address the increasing rate of disinformation and misinformation in the electoral system and processes ahead of the 2024 elections and combat the factors that play a role.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey highlighted the profound implications of the rising tide of misinformation, identifying it as a universal threat to the peace and democracy of nations.
She elaborated on the perilous consequences of an oversaturated and polluted information environment, a direct fallout of the rapid digitalization that characterises our era.
In the face of these challenges, the Minister advocated for a more nuanced and sophisticated approach to address the multifaceted issue of disinformation.
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