Government has been urged to ensure internet companies particularly social media companies operating in Ghana are held to account for their operational policies to guard against the weaponization of their platforms especially ahead of the December polls.
Lead fact-checker at FactSpace West Africa Rabiu Alhassan noted that political player are likely to attempt to hijack platforms such as social media to control narratives in their favour by deliberately churning out false information.
In order to prevent the masses from consuming such misinformation/disinformation, Rabiu said there is the need for stakeholders to step up their game in countering such false narratives.
He said while the media should watch out for such narratives and counter them in time as well as educate the public on detecting misinformation, the government and its regulatory agencies must ensure internet companies put measures to prevent their platforms from being weaponized.
“The internet companies have the responsibility and we’ve seen in other jurisdiction they being hauled before committees to held accountable for one thing or the other on their platforms,” he stated.
“So the government has a role, and the regulatory agencies has a role in demanding accountability from the internet companies and I think if these things should come together we should be making the necessary impact”.
Rabiu Alhassan said this in an interview on Breakfast News on Dreamz FM in commemoration of this year’s International Fact-checking Day.
The day, which is marked on April 2 annually, recognises the vital work of fact-checkers worldwide in upholding facts and the crucial role of accurate information in an interconnected world.
The theme for this year’s celebration is; #FactsMatter in building a more informed and resilient society, emphasis the need for credible information.
With Ghana heading to the polls in few months time, there couldn’t be a better theme.
