On election days across Africa, the queues are long, the sun is unforgiving, and hope hangs heavily in the air. From dusty rural towns to crowded city streets, citizens show up not just to vote, but to believe—in change, in leadership, and in the promise that their voices still matter. Yet increasingly, the battle for democracy is being fought long before ballots are cast. It is fought in WhatsApp groups, Facebook timelines, and viral voice notes where facts blur, emotions are weaponised, and truth often arrives too late.
By Henry Jerome Varfee, contributing Writer
In Liberia, as in many African democracies, information has become both a tool of empowerment and a weapon of manipulation. A single forwarded message can inflame communities, undermine trust in institutions, or reshape political loyalties overnight. In societies where oral traditions, communal trust, and digital platforms intersect, misinformation travels fast — often faster than verification, faster than correction, and faster than accountability.
When facts lose their authority, democracy itself becomes fragile. Elections risk turning into contests of narrative rather than choice, perception rather than policy. This moment demands more than better technology or stronger laws; it calls for an informed citizenry, media-literate youth, and a renewed commitment to truth as a public good. Liberia’s democratic journey offers a powerful lens through which to examine how misinformation, media literacy, and civic responsibility now shape the future of governance across Africa.
For many Liberians, social media isn’t just social—it is the news. A nationwide survey conducted in 2023 found that 70% of respondents cited social media as a significant source of information, with 66.5% acknowledging its influence on political decision-making. Yet, with this influence comes the twin dangers of falsehood and manipulation, underscoring a critical need for media and information literacy for democratic resilience.
During the October 2023 general elections, misinformation and disinformation didn’t only circulate—they shaped perceptions and challenged institutions. Rumors about voter registration requirements, the integrity of ballot counts, and misleading claims about the National Elections Commission (NEC) were rampant across social platforms and community networks, prompting election monitors to intervene and clarify facts.
To counter these threats, stakeholders from civil society, media, and international partners launched innovative responses. Notably, the iVerify platform, supported by the United Nations Development Programme and implemented by Local Voices Liberia, became a vital tool for rapid fact-checking and debunking false narratives during the elections. Over the course of the 2023 electoral cycle, iVerify tracked more than 200 claims of misinformation and hate speech, published fact-checked reports, and worked with journalists and mobile fact-checkers to strengthen information integrity.
Lenka Homolkova, UNDP’s Chief Technical Advisor on electoral support, emphasized the role of tools like iVerify in promoting accountability and trust: “Debunking fake news and misinformation contributes to increasing accountability and trust in the media and contributes to democratic processes.”
Despite these advancements, Liberia—like many African democracies—still lacks sufficient legal frameworks to address misinformation directly. While defamation laws exist, they are often inadequate to navigate the modern complexity of digital falsehoods, leaving gaps that are exploited by political actors and unverified sources alike.
Misinformation thrives in environments where citizens lack the tools to evaluate the credibility of information. Media and information literacy (MIL) is not just a technical skill—it is democratic armor. When individuals understand how to verify sources, discern bias, and contextualize narratives, they are less likely to be swayed by sensationalist claims or strategically placed falsehoods.
In rural and urban Liberia alike, the absence of widespread digital literacy has tangible consequences. False rumors about civic procedures can discourage voter registration. Town hall myths can polarize communities. Even economic scams can erode public confidence—as happened when market traders lost funds to deceptive online investment schemes that appeared credible due to polished visuals and viral sharing.
This is not unique to Liberia. Across Africa, social media has become a double-edged sword—extending access to information while also accelerating the spread of politically motivated misinformation, often amplified by automated accounts or unchecked sharing.
Young Liberians are at the forefront of this information struggle. With more than half of the population under 25, youth are heavy users of digital platforms and are particularly vulnerable to misinformation— but they are also critical agents for change. Programs that engage young people as peer educators, digital literacy champions, and fact-checking ambassadors are essential for a democratic future that values truth.
Empowering youth with media literacy means equipping them to challenge false narratives, contribute to civic education, and engage constructively in public discourse. It means moving beyond passive consumption to active verification and accountable sharing. This transformation is not just beneficial— it is necessary for electoral integrity and democratic resilience.
Liberia’s experience shows that democracy is not just about ballots and institutions— it is about the ecosystem of information that underpins civic engagement. Strengthening this ecosystem requires sustained commitment from multiple actors: national institutions like the NEC, civil society, community radio stations, tech platforms, and international partners. Collaboration between media and security actors, as seen in recent media-security SOPs, reflects the growing recognition that accurate information is essential for peaceful, transparent elections, but again the fight against misinformation is ongoing, and the stakes are high. When facts lose power, divisive narratives fill the void. But when societies invest in media literacy, fact-based reporting, and digital empowerment, they fortify the foundations of democracy itself— ensuring that citizens are not just informed, but empowered to act with truth, discernment, and agency.
Liberia’s path forward does not lie in silencing voices, but in sharpening them. As the country moves toward the 2029 elections, the real work of democracy must begin long before campaign banners rise or ballots are printed. It must begin in classrooms, community halls, radio studios, and digital spaces where citizens learn not only how to speak, but how to listen, question, verify, and think. Across Africa, from Ghana to Kenya, young people are increasingly shaping political conversations online; Liberia is no exception. The challenge ahead is ensuring that these conversations are grounded in facts, ethics, and responsibility, rather than fear, rumor, or manipulation. Stronger laws to protect media freedom, regulate digital spaces transparently, and hold purveyors of disinformation accountable will be essential, but laws alone are not enough without a citizenry equipped to use them wisely.
This is where hope quietly takes root. Through initiatives like the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe’s HEY Programme, young people from Liberia and across the Global South are being given more than training; they are being given tools for democratic survival. By strengthening media and information literacy, digital safety awareness, and human rights education, HEY is cultivating a generation of youth who understand that democracy is not inherited, it is practiced. As these young leaders return to their communities, they carry with them the capacity to challenge falsehoods, defend civic space, and rebuild trust in public life. If Liberia’s future elections are to be decided by informed choice rather than viral deception, then investments in media literacy, youth empowerment, and ethical governance must become national priorities. In an age where misinformation seeks to divide, the deliberate education of citizens may yet prove to be Liberia’s strongest defense— and its quiet revolution.
About the Author
Henry Jerome Varfee is a Liberian journalist and youth development practitioner whose work sits at the intersection of media, governance, and civic education. A PR strategist with a strong grounding in digital marketing and corporate communications, he is deeply committed to advancing media and information literacy as a tool for democratic participation and social accountability. As a certified HEY Tutor, Henry works with young people to promote digital safety, critical thinking, and human rights awareness across diverse communities.
He can be reached at [email protected].
