ECOWAS, CDD join forces to tackle disinformation threatening democracy

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) have joined forces to combat the growing menace of misinformation and disinformation undermining democratic institutions.

The two organizations convened a high-level regional engagement in Lagos, bringing together policymakers, scholars, media experts, and civil society leaders to develop strategies to counter the spread of false narratives that increasingly manipulate politics, disrupt elections, and incite social unrest in the region.

Speaking at the one-day event, Ebenezer Asiedu, Head of Democracy and Good Governance at the ECOWAS Commission, who represented  Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, emphasized the urgent need to address the disinformation crisis.

“Misinformation and disinformation are direct threats to democratic stability. “ECOWAS is committed to reinforcing structures that protect truth and transparency”, Asiedu stated.

With several West African countries approaching critical electoral cycles, participants at the engagement highlighted the growing influence of disinformation campaigns, often spread via social media, in swaying public opinion, disrupting peaceful transitions, and eroding trust in democratic institutions.

Adiele Jinadu and Jubrin Ibrahim warned of the dangerous implications of unchecked misinformation. They stressed the need for a united front involving governments, media organizations, tech companies, and civil society to effectively combat the spread of fake news.

“Governments alone cannot tackle misinformation; we need an alliance of credible voices to safeguard the integrity of information,” Ibrahim noted.

A key resolution from the engagement was the urgent need to enhance media and digital literacy across West Africa. Experts argued that educating the public on how to identify and critically assess false information is the most effective way to curb its spread.

The workshop called for greater investment in media literacy programs to help the public identify and challenge false information. It also emphasized the need to establish regional fact-checking networks to verify content and curb the spread of misinformation.

Additionally, participants advocated for stronger policies to hold purveyors of disinformation accountable for their actions.

Onyinye Onwuka, Acting Director of the ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate, also highlighted the importance of real-time monitoring and rapid response mechanisms to detect and counter false narratives, especially during sensitive periods like elections.

While there was a consensus on the need to combat disinformation, stakeholders emphasized the importance of safeguarding press freedom and free speech.

ECOWAS officials assured participants that efforts to tackle misinformation would not infringe upon democratic rights but would instead ensure that the public has access to accurate and reliable information.

The Lagos engagement concluded with a strong commitment from ECOWAS, CDD, and their partners to intensify regional cooperation in the fight against disinformation, particularly as West Africa approaches a series of crucial elections.

“This is a call to action. Only by working together can we ensure that democracy thrives in West Africa, free from the shadow of falsehoods and manipulation”, Asiedu declared.