It's about issues, not insults

By Shine Kwawukumey


The Mensvic Grand Hotel in East Legon, Accra, on 17th July, 2024, hosted a significant public forum on "Countering Hate Speech and Polarizing Narratives to Foster Democratic Consolidation and Peace in Ghana." 

Organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in collaboration with the National Peace Council (NPC), the event attracted a diverse group of stakeholders committed to addressing the challenges posed by hate speech and divisive narratives in the lead-up to Ghana’s December 2024 elections.

In his opening remarks, Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of MFWA, emphasized the importance of safeguarding Ghana’s democracy and peace. 

"This year marks 31 years since Ghana transitioned from military rule to constitutional governance. 

"As we approach our ninth successful election, it is crucial to reflect on how to consolidate and sustain our democracy and peace," he said. 

Braimah highlighted the alarming rise of misinformation and dysinformation campaigns targeting West Africa, including Ghana, and called for robust measures to counter these threats.

George Amoh, Executive Secretary of the NPC, noted the regional challenges, saying, "Democracy is under attack, and in West Africa, we face the threat of violent extremism and terrorism, driven by hate speech and divisive comments. 

"We must rally together to counter these negative narratives," he added. 

He later inaugurated a National Multi-stakeholder Coalition Against Hate Speech and Polarizing Narratives, which aims at unifying efforts to combat these issues.

Mac-Ikemenjima Dabesaki, Senior Programme Officer for West Africa of the Ford Foundation, highlighted the global implications of dysinformation. 

"The intentional manipulation of information for malicious purposes is a continuous threat to democracy worldwide. 

"Polarization is a hyper-problem that hinders progress on critical issues," he said. 

The Ford Foundation’s initiatives in Ghana aim to address these challenges through research and capacity-building.

The Keynote Speaker, George Sarpong, Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), provided historical context to hate speech and polarizing narratives. 

"Hate speech is not a modern phenomenon; it is amplified today by technology. 

"Our focus should be on addressing polarizing narratives that deepen societal divisions," he said. 

Sarpong proposed a comprehensive approach to tackling misinformation, emphasizing the need for the media to balance fairness and integrity.

The forum also featured a panel discussion with representatives from various sectors, including the media, civil society and government. 

The panelists explored strategies for countering hate speech and fostering peaceful discourse. 

Key recommendations made included enhancing media literacy programmes, enforcing laws against hate speech and promoting inter-community dialogue.

In conjunction with the forum, MFWA launched several initiatives supported by the Ford Foundation. 

These include training 100 journalists nationwide to counter hate speech and misinformation, organizing regional youth festivals for peace, and producing educational videos in local languages.

The event ended with a strong call to action from all participants to work collaboratively in addressing the root causes of hate speech and polarization. 

As Ghana prepares for its upcoming elections, the initiative taken at the forum are crucial to ensuring a stable and peaceful democratic process.

By bringing together stakeholders from across society, the MFWA and its partners are taking significant steps towards combating hate speech and preserving the democratic integrity of Ghana.

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