Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called on African governments to embrace open governance as a strategy to combat misinformation and disinformation.
During his vetting on January 31, Ablakwa stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in governance, stating that access to credible information would empower citizens and prevent them from being misled.
“I think that African leaders should become conscious of the new age, new media, and we should encourage more transparency. My view is that if African leaders and African governments adopt an open governance architecture, if they are more transparent and accountable, then the people will know. Knowledge is power, so it will not be easy for the people to be misled,” he said.
He noted that access to information remains a challenge on the continent, despite Ghana passing the Right to Information (RTI) Act, adding that its implementation still has much to be desired.
Ablakwa also condemned the misuse of media platforms for spreading disinformation, urging regulatory bodies to take action against those responsible.
“Our regulatory bodies should clamp down on those who are misusing the media for disinformation, misinformation, and the creation of fake accounts. Unfortunately, even governments on the continent are responsible. They have these fake factories and pay people to disseminate fake information.”
Refuting claims that he had deleted his previous Facebook posts, Ablakwa reaffirmed his commitment to his principles and dismissed the allegation as an example of fake news.
“On my way to this vetting, messages were circulating that I had deleted my Facebook posts, which is not true. I am not a coward, I stand by my convictions. I am a conviction politician. Fake news is a real problem, and I think that social media has come to stay, so let’s encourage more open and transparent governance,” he concluded.
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