Mahama Accuses Jubilee House Of Churning Out Fake News To Undermine His Political Ambitions
- The National Democratic Congress flagbearer, John Mahama, has accused the Jubilee House of manufacturing fake news against him
- He told supporters at a mini-rally that the presidency is responsible for all the fake news on social media in the run-up to the 2024 elections
- He was reacting to a disclaimer issued by the Chief of Akroso clarifying that he did not endorse Bawumia as being reported in the media
- YEN.com.gh spoke with a fact-checker with Dubawa, Kennedy Odame Twumasi, who warned about the dangers of fake news
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama has accused the Jubilee House of being at the centre of a fake news orchestration to undermine his political ambitions.
He told a mini-rally of party faithful at Asene Manso Akroso constituency in the Eastern Region that the Jubilee House has been churning out fake news about him and his affines to turn the electorates against him.
Source: Getty Images
His comments came after the Chief of Akroso, Nana Kwabena Ofori, denounced media reports on November 19, 2024, that he had endorsed the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, during a recent visit.
John Mahama, reacting to the Chief’s disclaimer, said the king should not blame journalists for the mishap but rather the Jubilee House.
At the mini-rally, he said the Jubilee House has a knack for misconstruing what people say to meet their agenda.
The former president urged Ghanaians to be very vigilant and verify information, or else they may fall victim to political propaganda packaged as news.
Fact-checker warns of dangers of fake news
In an interview with YEN.com.gh, Kennedy Odame Twumasi, a fact-checker with Dubawa, stated that while he is not able to verify John Mahama's assertion, "if that is the case, it underscores a broader concern about the institutionalization of disinformation in political contexts."
He said the spread of disinformation in the lead-up to the 2024 elections poses significant risks to Ghana's democratic stability.
"One notable example of disinformation causing chaos during elections occurred in Kenya's 2007 general elections, where over 1,100 people were killed, and approximately 600,000 others were displaced in one of the worst post-election crises in Kenya's history.
"Disinformation can polarize voters, erode trust in electoral institutions, and stoke tensions among supporters of different political parties."
He suggested that stakeholders, politicians, media organisations and voters must adopt a fact-based approach to counter the spread of fake news.
Akufo-Addo warns against fake news
Meanwhile, Nana Akufo-Addo, speaking at the Ghana Report Summit in Accra, said the upcoming general elections are very charged and demand high vigilance in the run-up.
He called for alertness and proactivity among the media and citizens to combat the malicious spread of misinformation and disinformation.
Akufo-Addo warned that if left unchecked, the spread of misinformation could significantly undermine the electoral process, putting Ghana on the path to chaos and destruction.
He charged the media to play a critical role in ensuring accurate information dissemination and debunking false information.
The President also advised against actions that could incite tensions in the country.
He urged Ghanaians to protect and promote the peace and stability of the nation by fostering a calm and respectful environment as the country heads to the polls.
Blogger jailed for spreading fake news
YEN.com.gh reported that an Accra Circuit Court sentenced a blogger to prison for publishing and sharing false information.
Jeffrey Epprim Nyame was found guilty during proceedings recently and was expected to spend 30 days behind bars.
The presiding judge, Isaac Addo, stated that his custodial sentence should serve as a warning to others not to spread fake news.
Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh
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Source: YEN.com.gh
