By Hassan Gbassay Koroma
Ecowas Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) , yesterday commenced a two-day symposium and 10th General Assembly in Freetown, to discuss challenges affecting electoral process, including misinformation and fake news.
The event, which was held at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown, brought together electoral commissioners in all the 15 ECWAS member states with the theme “The Role of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) in promoting information integrity, as a vital component in safeguarding electoral processes.’
Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), who also doubles as President of (ECONEC), Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, said in this era, information travels instantaneously and often without verification, and electoral bodies find themselves at a crossroads.
For nearly two decades, he said West Africa has seen significant strides in democratic governance, notwithstanding some troubling challenges which have increased to the level of skepticism of the democratic process.
He said at the symposium they will explore how EMBs, can respond to those developments, protect the electoral process, and ensure that citizens have access to reliable information that empowers them to participate fully in their governance.
He highlighted that, across the region and the world at large, there is an increased trend of misinformation, election denial and declining democratic engagement.
He said the pattern is the consequence of a combination of factors, including but not limited to the quality or lack of information, either coming from the EMBs, or politicians and their interest groups.
He noted that the traditional political campaigns have been reduced to misinformation and threats to political opponents.
He said civil society organizations, EMBs and digital landscape, citizens are bombarded by a constant flow of content news, opinions, rumors, and outright disinformation much of it unchecked, and some of it intentionally misleading.
“In such an environment, voters may struggle to discern what is true and who to trust. Misinformation and disinformation can alter perceptions, fuel apathy, and delegitimize the electoral process,” he said.
He lamented that the challenge before them is not merely about responding to the presence of social media but about harnessing its potential to foster informed citizen participation.
He said together, they must forge a path that upholds the values of truth, trust and the accountability within the legal framework in the electoral processes and political space.
He highlighted that traditionally, EMBs have been tasked with managing electoral coordination that is ensuring transparent, fair, and credible elections within the legal framework and standards, but in this digital age, their mandate has expanded and that they must now also champion the integrity of the information ecosystem that underpins elections.
He said they are uniquely positioned to protect not only the mechanics of voting but the environment in which citizens make their choices.
He said as custodians of both electoral and information integrity, they must rise to that responsibility, ensuring that voters have access to timely information.
He further noted that disinformation is a pervasive threat and that they see coordinated efforts to spread false narratives, often targeting specific demographics or exploiting cultural sensitivities.
He said those campaigns are frequently sophisticated, leveraging artificial intelligence, targeted algorithms, and sometimes cross-border actors intent on destabilizing democratic processes.
He called for EMBs to invest in resolute teams focused on digital engagement and misinformation response by having a team that should be well-versed in media monitoring, digital communications, and rapid-response strategies.
He said they should also implement tools to track and address misinformation and improved regular, transparent communication and build trust by publishing frequent updates, maintain open channels for voter inquiries, and create interactive content that explains the electoral process in clear, accessible terms.
Director-General (DG) of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Josephine Kamara, said the social media offers a powerful platform particularly in West Africa and its helps to enhance transparency and engage with the public, noting that the social media also represent a significant risk with bias perceptions and rapid spread of misinformation.
She said infective social media use in election monitoring will require clear protocol and well-trained staff with the commitment to unbiased and transparent communication, noting that the work of electoral bodies are challenging especially in the digital age where misinformation is spreading very fast .
Representative from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) Olufunto Akinduro, said they have been supporting ECSL in all areas over the to ensure that they conduct credible elections in the country.
Representing the Chief Minister, Cyrus Sheriff said electoral integrity and information integrity are both critical to health and functioning of a democratic society.
