Empowering youth in the digital era: Tackling disinformation ahead of elections
Penplusbytes has in partnership with Youth Kommunity, organized the first-ever Youth Against Disinformation Conference in Accra and Tamale, as part of the UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) week celebrations in Ghana.
Focused on educating young Ghanaians on how to combat election-related misinformation and disinformation, the conference continued Penplusbytes’ commitment to promoting media and information literacy during the month of October. It aimed to equip the youth with the tools to differentiate between credible information and misleading narratives, particularly as Ghana approaches its 2024 general elections.
The event’s importance lies in its effort to prepare young voters for the complex media environment they will navigate during the elections.
Penplusbytes’ Executive Director, Jerry Sam, emphasized the need for informed decision-making among young voters. He stressed, “It is crucial for the youth to base their choices on policies rather than personalities.” He warned that personality-driven politics often lead to divisive language and the spread of unverified claims, which can harm the democratic process.
In a keynote address on behalf of UNESCO Ghana’s Country Representative, Mr. Edmond Moukala, Mr. Carl Ampah, the National Programme Officer for Culture, highlighted the critical role of media literacy in the digital era. He said, “Equipping people to critically separate facts from disinformation is essential,” and encouraged youth to use fact-checking tools to combat the challenges posed by fake news in decision-making.
The conference attracted over 200 participants, including high school and university students, members of MIL Clubs, fact-checking organizations, the media, NGOs, and CSOs. Partners like Youth Kommunity, UNIMAC-IJ, the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, and DW Akademie collaborated to develop a well-informed electorate capable of navigating the challenges of misinformation.
The event featured hands-on workshops, interactive discussions, and capacity-building sessions focused on media literacy and disinformation, particularly on social media. These activities equipped attendees with the skills to critically assess online content and resist viral falsehoods.
Following the Accra conference, a second event was held in Tamale on October 29, 2024, which included a practical media and information literacy workshop. This session focused on helping participants understand and identify the impacts of misinformation and disinformation on public opinion.
Penplusbytes’ Head of Programmes, Precious Ankomah, stressed the importance of media literacy for young people, saying, “Being informed helps you make better decisions. This is why we’ve gathered you to teach you how to spot disinformation and protect yourself.” She also encouraged the youth to base their electoral choices on evidence-based manifestos and policies, rather than familial, tribal, or religious influences.
As the conference progressed, the need for a critical mindset among the youth became increasingly clear. Penplusbytes aims to create an electorate capable of distinguishing reliable information, contributing to Ghana’s democratic integrity in the face of misleading narratives. The inaugural Youth Against Disinformation Conference is a key milestone in Penplusbytes’ mission to promote media and information literacy across Ghana and beyond. Over 500 young people in Accra and Tamale gained valuable skills in critical thinking and digital literacy through interactive workshops, expert talks, and hands-on training, all of which will be crucial as Ghana prepares for the 2024 elections.
