Political parties urged to guard against foreign manipulation of information

George Sarpong, Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), has warned political parties against unwittingly aiding foreign actors in manipulating Ghana's information landscape. FIMI, or foreign information manipulation and interference, exploits genuine information to divide society and undermine social cohesion, Mr Sarpong stated.

This insidious tactic selects truthful but highly explosive information, removes it from context, and amplifies it using algorithms to go viral. Political parties are especially vulnerable due to their leaders and communicators, who could deepen divisions among competing political factions. FIMI also targets institutions vital for national and social stability, such as the NMC, religious leaders, and traditional authorities.

Mr Sarpong urged political parties to be aware that their internal conflicts could be manipulated by external forces seeking to destabilize the nation. He highlighted the exploitation of nationalism, particularly among young people, through online narratives that advocate unconstitutional government changes. To combat FIMI, political parties should establish clear communication standards and codes to guide their members and supporters.

They must identify potential risks of misinformation, devise mitigation strategies, and take responsibility for their communicators. Mr Sarpong emphasized that political parties should not reward inflammatory language, as this encourages extreme public behavior. He proposed the creation of a Ghana Media Observatory, involving experts, the NMC, UNDP, and political parties, to monitor and advise on dangerous content to de-escalate tensions.

The dialogue, organized by the National Peace Council (NPC) in partnership with UNDP and Catholic Relief Services, aimed to strengthen Ghana's democracy by promoting responsible political communication and inter-party collaboration.