The Director for Training at the Electoral Commission (EC) Ghana, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, has cautioned Ghanaians to be wary of fake news as the nation prepares for the upcoming Election 2024.
In an exclusive interview on Atinka TV’s Morning show, Ghana Nie, hosted by Bernard Lav, Dr. Quaicoe emphasized the harmful impact of fake news on societal peace and electoral processes.
“Fake news triggers emotions which can lead to physical attacks and other unpleasant behaviors,” Dr. Quaicoe explained.
He stressed that the spread of misinformation can escalate tensions, potentially leading to violence and chaos during the electoral period.
To prevent such outcomes, he urged the public not to take the law into their own hands but to report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
Reflecting on the previous election, Dr. Quaicoe debunked claims that violence occurred at some polling stations, clarifying that incidents reported were mainly outside voting centers with some at collation centers.
He asserted that these issues could have been resolved promptly if they had been reported to the relevant authorities in a timely manner.
The caution from Dr. Quaicoe comes in the wake of incidents during the last election where misinformation and unverified reports contributed to heightened tensions and violence at various collation centers across the country.
As Ghana approaches another critical electoral cycle, the EC emphasizes the importance of maintaining a peaceful environment and ensuring accurate information dissemination to safeguard the integrity of the elections.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com Ebenezer Madugu