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President Akufo-Addo has strongly condemned what he describes as a coordinated misinformation campaign by his political opponents, accusing them of falsely linking him to the death of his late wife, Eleanor Akufo-Addo.
The President also addressed the circulation of the controversial ‘Agyapadie’ document, which has been widely speculated to outline a plan for state capture during his administration.
Speaking at the Ghana Report Summit, held under the theme ‘Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation in the Upcoming Election,’ President Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to reject such false narratives and emphasized the importance of combating fake news as the country approaches the 2024 general elections.
He called on the public to be vigilant and critical of the information they encounter, particularly as the election season heats up.
“In the run-up to the 2008, 2012 and 2016 presidential elections, I was a target of numerous false and malicious stories attacking my credibility and integrity. In 2008, baseless allegations of drug trafficking were spread, along with numerous rumours about my health intended to cast doubt on my ability to serve as President.
“Again, the 2012 election saw false reports of my alleged arrest in London for drug possession and fabricated quotes designed to stir ethnic tension. In 2016, it was alleged by sympathizers of the opposition that I had killed my late wife. Today, with a few months to the 2024 elections, they are at it again. The fabricated document entitled ‘Agyapadie’ is being spread around by operatives of the opposition as evidence of a grand scheme by my party to annex the assets of the state,” he recounted.
Since the Agyapadie document started circulation in the media, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has vehemently dismissed it as fake.
But a section of Ghanaians believes that a lot of events currently happening in the country have long been mentioned in the Agyapadie document, making it difficult to believe that the document is fake.
The President, however, stressed on the dire consequences misinformation can have on democratic stability. He says false information can skew public perception, create confusion, and undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
“The impact of misinformation and disinformation on the electoral processes cannot be exaggerated. False information can skew public perception of candidates and political parties, leading to uninformed decision-making at the polls,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo pointed out that the digital age, while beneficial in many ways, has also facilitated the rapid spread of false information, particularly through social media platforms.
He stressed that campaign based on misinformation often exploit societal divisions and amplify existing tensions, posing a significant risk to social cohesion and potentially inciting violence while disrupting public order.
“As we approach the 2024 general elections, we have to address these challenges head-on. We should take proactive measures to curb the spread of false information and ensure that the public has access to accurate and reliable information,” he urged.
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH
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