Penplusbytes Hosts Inaugural Youth Against Disinformation Conference in Accra and Tamale
In October this year, Penplusbytes, in collaboration with its partner Youth Kommunity, hosted the inaugural Youth Against Disinformation Conference in Accra and Tamale as part of the activities marking the UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) week in Ghana.
Aimed at educating young Ghanaians on combating election-related mis/disinformation, the conference continued Penplusbytes’ tradition of promoting media and information literacy every October by focusing on equipping young Ghanaians with the knowledge and skills to discern factual information from misleading narratives particularly as Ghana heads toward its 2024 general elections.
The event’s significance is underscored by its aim to help prepare young voters for the complex media landscape surrounding the elections.
During the conference, Penplusbytes’ Executive Director, Jerry Sam, emphasized the importance of informed decision-making among young voters, stating, “It is crucial for the youth to base their choices on policies rather than personalities.” He noted that personality-driven political discourse often leads to the use of divisive language and the spread of unverified claims, which can negatively affect the democratic process.
In the keynote address delivered on behalf of UNESCO Ghana’s Country Representative, Mr. Edmond Moukala, Mr. Carl Ampah, the National Programme Officer for Culture highlighted the essential role of media literacy in the digital landscape. He remarked, “It is essential to equip people to critically separate facts from disinformation,” and urged the youth to utilize fact-checking tools effectively, noting the challenge fake news poses to informed decision-making.
The conference was attended by over 200 young people including high school students, tertiary students, MIL Clubs, Fact-Checking organisations, members of the media, NGOs, and CSOs. Partners such as Youth Kommunity, UNIMAC-IJ, Ghana Commission for UNESCO, and DW Akademie contributed to the collective commitment to developing a well-informed electorate able to navigate through the sea of mis/disinformation.
Hands-on workshops, discussions, and capacity-building sessions on media literacy and disinformation, particularly on social media, engaged attendees throughout the event. These activities empowered the youth to critically evaluate online content and resist viral falsehoods.
Following the Accra conference, the team hosted a second event in Tamale on October 29, 2024, which also included a practical media and information literacy workshop. This session provided attendees with competencies in identifying and understanding the impacts of misinformation and disinformation on public opinion.
Precious Ankomah, Head of Programmes at Penplusbytes, emphasized the critical importance of media literacy for youth. She remarked, “When you are informed, it helps you to make better decisions. This is why we have brought you together to educate you on identifying disinformation and protecting yourself against it.” She also encouraged the youth to make election choices based on evidence-based manifestos and policies rather than parental influence, tribal affiliation, or religious background..
As the conference unfolded, the importance of fostering a critical mindset among the youth became increasingly apparent. By equipping them with the skills to discern reliable information, Penplusbytes aims to contribute to a more informed electorate that can withstand the pressures of misleading narratives and make choices that enhance Ghana’s democratic integrity.
The Inaugural Youth Against Disinformation Conference marks a milestone step in Penplusbytes’ mission to promote media and information literacy across Ghana and beyond. Through interactive workshops, expert presentations, and hands-on training sessions, over 500 young people across Accra and Tamale gained valuable skills in critical thinking and digital literacy. These competencies will be particularly crucial as Ghana approaches its 2024 general elections, where the ability to discern fact from fiction will be needed.
