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By Paul Mamattah/Abigail Teye
The ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate of Communication, has held a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists and media practitioners in Accra to enhance information integrity and counter the spread of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and anti-democratic narratives.
It was organised in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with support from the government of Germany, and the training aimed at building a stronger, ethical, and resilient media landscape in West Africa.
The workshop focused on ECOWAS’s Vision 2050 priorities, which include promoting peace and security, strengthening democratic governance, enhancing economic integration, fostering social inclusion, and driving sustainable environmental action. It also sought to amplify ECOWAS’s visibility on regional integration initiatives.
The training workshop formed part of a broader initiative under a partnership memorandum of understanding signed between ECOWAS and the MFWA in December 2023, with support from the GIZ OD Programme.
Participants engaged in intensive hands-on sessions on fact-checking, open-source intelligence (OSINT), artificial intelligence applications, conflict-sensitive reporting, and media information literacy.
These tools seek to equip journalists with the skills to identify actors behind harmful narratives, investigate human rights violations, ensure digital security, and uphold the highest ethical and legal standards in their work.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan, underscored the critical role of journalists in protecting truth and public trust in the era of digital communication.
He warned that misinformation, disinformation, and deliberate distortion of facts threaten democracy, social cohesion, and public confidence across West Africa.
“In today’s fast-changing information landscape, dominated by social media, truth is often challenged by falsehoods. Without integrity in information, our democracies weaken, public confidence erodes, and social cohesion is threatened,” he cautioned.
Ambassador Lawan highlighted how false narratives have the potential to inflame tensions, distort electoral processes, and undermine public health responses.
He stressed that the digital space provides opportunities for amplifying credible voices, strengthening accountability, and promoting transparency.
“As journalists, you carry the heavy burden of safeguarding public trust and ensuring that citizens have access to accurate, verified, and balanced information,” he said, urging the media to champion ethical and fact-based reporting.
Ambassador Lawan also commended the extensive media coverage of activities marking ECOWAS’s 50th Anniversary, including the official launch in Ghana, the re-enactment of the 1975 Treaty signing in Lagos, and other commemorative events across member states.
According to him, these engagements provided a timely opportunity to highlight the bloc’s achievements and future prospects.
“ECOWAS deeply appreciates the critical role journalists play and will continue to stand by the media community as an indispensable partner in supporting our regional integration trajectory encapsulated under Vision 2050,” he assured.
The workshop brought together journalists to build capacity in identifying and countering disinformation, strengthening fact-checking skills, and leveraging digital tools to promote information integrity.
On his part, the Deputy Head of Cooperation of the German Embassy in Ghana, Daniel Boehme, emphasized the critical role of the media in shaping public discourse and promoting transparency.
He highlighted the importance of a free and sustainable media sector in combating misinformation and safeguarding public discourse, particularly in the context of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 for a peaceful and prosperous region.
Mr. Boehme reaffirmed the German government’s commitment, through the Organisational Development Project, to partnering with ECOWAS and the media sector to build strong institutions and ensure effective communication across the region.
This collaboration, he said, aims to support the development of independent, professional media outlets that can withstand the challenges of the digital landscape and ultimately contribute to peaceful and inclusive societies in West Africa.
Participants were awarded certificates of participation.
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