Simba Ghana Trains Consortium Members on Digital Advocacy for Accountable Governance

Tamale: A training workshop on inclusive digital advocacy for consortium members of the Citizens Awareness and Advocacy for Campaign Finance Reforms (CAACFiR) project has been held in Tamale. It formed part of the implementation of the CAACFiR project in the Northern, North East, and Savannah Regions. The initiative, led by Simba Ghana, an NGO, is funded by the United States Agency for International Development under its Political Accountability Activity and spearheaded by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.According to Ghana News Agency, the workshop gathered youth groups and other stakeholders to discuss key principles of digital advocacy, including data privacy and security, accessibility and inclusion, misinformation and manipulation, authenticity, and transparency. The objective was to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to gather public support and demand robust regulatory reforms aimed at promoting transparency and reducing the high cost of political campaign fi nancing in the country.Mr Abdul Rahman Abdul Mumin, Executive Director of Simba Ghana, facilitated the training, highlighting its focus on equipping participants with digital advocacy skills to develop effective strategies for demanding accountable governance. He emphasized the importance of creating compelling digital content for meaningful advocacy campaigns and urged attendees to utilize their new skills to promote the sustainable growth and development of the country.The workshop also served as a platform for presenting findings and recommendations by Simba Ghana from the recent general election. Recommendations included the need for more electoral reforms to prevent vote buying during elections, increased visibility of anti-vote buying campaigns, and strengthening monitoring mechanisms at polling stations.Mr Awal Abdul Mugis, Gushegu Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, praised the training for targeting the youth, who are often vulnerable to misinformation and disinfo rmation. Mr Hafiz Yussif, a Programmes Officer at the Ghana Developing Communities Association, an NGO participant in the training, encouraged the youth to use digital platforms to promote peace, tolerance, and stability.