CJID, DUBAWA intensify efforts to protect integrity of Ghana’s 2024 elections
As Ghana approaches its 2024 general elections, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and its fact-checking subsidiary, DUBAWA, have announced an intensified effort to ensure a transparent, credible and inclusive electoral process.
According to a statement issued on Friday, CJID said it has deployed 19 observers, fact-checkers, and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) analysts to monitor and verify information circulating in the lead-up to the December polls.
These personnel, according to the statement, are working through the organization’s Media in National Elections (MiNE) initiative and its verification campaigns, with a focus on countering misinformation and disinformation that could undermine public trust in the election outcome.
In two newly released reports, CJID provides insights into citizens’ perceptions of the electoral environment, as well as patterns and threats posed by misinformation and disinformation. Additionally, CJID’s Digital Technology, AI, and Information Disorder Analysis Centre (DAIDAC) has identified online trends that threaten electoral integrity.
In the latest article published by DUBAWA Ghana, titled ‘Agyapadie Circus: A Make-Believe Toxic Politico-Ethnic Document for Election,’ DUBAWA uncovered evidence of political propaganda spreading on social media ahead of the polls. DUBAWA Ghana has also successfully debunked AI-generated deepfake content circulating on social media platforms, exposing novel tactics used to manipulate public opinion.
To address these challenges, CJID, the statement added, is collaborating closely with the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and tech partners, including Meta and TikTok. Three situation rooms have been established in Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi to enable real-time monitoring, rapid verification, and prompt responses to misleading claims that could influence voters or incite tension.
“Our goal is to strengthen trust, encourage informed participation, and ensure a peaceful electoral environment,” said Akintunde Babatunde, Director of Programs at CJID. “By working together, citizens and institutions can uphold democratic values and safeguard Ghana’s longstanding reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies.”
With these coordinated efforts, CJID and its partners are well-positioned to play a pivotal role in promoting electoral integrity, boosting voter confidence, and preserving the credibility of Ghana’s democratic process as the country approaches its crucial 2024 elections.
