Accra: The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ayawaso West Municipal Office, in collaboration with the French Embassy in Ghana, has organised a civic education programme at the Accra Girls Vocational Institute in Tesano, Accra. The event, held under the theme 'Combating misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech,' aimed to educate students on the dangers of false information and its impact on society.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Mawuli Agbenu, the Greater Accra Regional Director of the NCCE, served as the facilitator for the session. He emphasised the importance of verifying information sources before sharing them with others, particularly on social media. Mr. Agbenu explained that in today's digital era, the rapid spread of information, whether true or false, could have serious consequences; therefore, individuals must develop critical thinking skills to differentiate between factual and misleading content.
He provided a detailed explanation of three key terms: misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, highlighting their differences. He defined misinformation as inaccurate or incorrect information shared without the intention to deceive, often resulting from ignorance and a lack of verification. In contrast, disinformation refers to false information created and spread to deceive or manipulate people.
Mr. Agbenu elaborated that disinformation is intended to mislead individuals for personal, political, or economic gain and can include any form of communication that promotes hatred, violence, or discrimination against individuals or groups. He added that hate speech is often used to incite hostility, fuel divisions, or target specific communities based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or other identities.
He provided practical examples of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech using real-life situations and stressed that understanding the differences between these terms is essential for effective communication, critical thinking, and fostering a safe and respectful online environment. He urged students to always fact-check information before sharing it and to be responsible digital citizens.
The beneficiaries proposed that such programmes should be organised regularly to inculcate knowledge into them while commending the French Embassy for supporting such an initiative. They recognised it as a valuable contribution to youth empowerment and social responsibility.
