Monrovia – The Resident Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, is calling on media practitioners to resist providing platforms to individuals who, she says, promote hate speech and inciting statements.
Speaking at the outset of a two-day workshop for media practitioners and professionals at the Boulevard Palace Hotel on Monday, Madam Nkrumah emphasized that the media should work to ensure that the voices of all Liberians are heard and adequately represented.
Madam Nkrumah highlighted that misinformation and disinformation pose serious threats to Liberia’s democracy, adding that they have become instruments that can be used to manipulate public opinion, sow discord, and undermine the electoral process. She stated, “The debilitating impact of misinformation and disinformation on elections can be seen in recent elections worldwide, particularly in our region, where lives were lost, properties were destroyed, and the credibility of elections was compromised.”
The Resident Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia remarked, “We have witnessed four coups resulting from post-election conflicts in the sub-region, and Liberia must stem the tide.”
The 2023 General and Presidential elections will mark the fourth successful electoral process. Madam Nkrumah stated, “The world looks to Liberia to showcase its growing democracy.”
She added, “The ECOWAS Commission sincerely hopes to foster an environment of informed and responsible journalism and reporting, believing that we will all contribute to the empowerment of our citizens and the consolidation of our democratic institutions.”
Liberia recently celebrated 20 years of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ushered in the present democratic dispensation. Madam Nkrumah stressed the need for the Liberian media to do everything to ensure the protection of the peace and tranquility that the country has continued to enjoy since the signing and coming into force of the peace agreement.
Madam Nkrumah emphasized, “The media, as the gatekeepers of information, play a vital role in countering misinformation, mal-information, and disinformation. As practitioners, you have the power to inform and educate the public accurately, to minimize the spread of fake news and hate speech, to hold those in power accountable, and to promote critical thinking by setting the agenda for informed, engaged, and discerning civic discourse.”
