The Member of Parliament (MP) of Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged young people to be vigilant online and take an active role in fighting misinformation and disinformation.
Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Anti-Disinformation Coalition (GADC) Project, which commenced with a youth seminar on misinformation and online safety, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said the Internet had become an essential tool but could be dangerous if users were not careful.
The MP advised young people to protect their personal information and be cautious about whom they interacted with online.
“Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are,” she cautioned.
GADC project
The programme, which was held at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan ICT Centre (GI-KACE) in Accra last Wednesday, was organised by Penplusbytes with funding from the Government of Norway.
It was on the theme: “Fake News, Real Consequences: Empowering Young Minds to Combat Misinformation and Stay Safe Online”.
The seminar was attended by over 300 young people in Accra from junior and senior high schools and tertiary institutions.
They were taken through the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the digital space safely and responsibly.
Impact
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings indicated that misinformation could affect the mental health of young people, making them anxious and creating the impression that harmful behaviour was normal.
“Not everything you see online reflects real life. You have the right to protect your mind and your peace,” she said.
She stressed that the youth were not just at risk of misinformation but were also part of the solution.
“You can choose to be different. You can choose to be someone who checks facts, someone who speaks the truth, someone who helps others understand what is real.
That is how change begins,” she stated.
Addressing teachers and facilitators, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said their role went beyond teaching to shaping how young people understood the world.
She called for the creation of environments where students felt safe to ask questions, challenge what they saw and heard, and thought independently without fear of being wrong.
She added that adults must lead by example by verifying information, speaking truthfully and staying open to learning.
“When young people feel supported and respected, they become more confident, more thoughtful and better equipped to navigate the online world responsibly,” Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said.
Information integrity
The Executive Director of Penplusbytes, Jerry Sam, said the GADC Project was a three-year, nationally coordinated initiative designed to reduce the spread and societal impact of disinformation through collaborative action, localised research and Al-powered innovation.
He indicated that recognising that disinformation thrived in information voids and exploited linguistic and cultural vulnerabilities, the project would bring together media organisations, civil society, technology innovators and community leaders to build a resilient, evidence-based information ecosystem grounded in verified facts and local knowledge.
Mr Sam affirmed that the project aligned strongly with the organisation’s mission to strengthen good governance in Africa through digital technologies.
For his part, the Deputy Ambassador of Norway to Ghana, Ingrid Skjolaas, said although disinformation was nothing new, its speed, scale and intensity with which it spread needed to be curtailed.
“We have partnered Penplusbytes because we know their solid work and we believe in the need to engage and join forces. Information must be a force to strengthen and build our societies, not threaten them and undermine democratic values,” he said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh