A wave of decolonisation swept through Africa between the 1950s and the 1970s yet despite the general optimism surrounding the celebration of independence, there was considerable political instability. Coups, counter-coups, and failed coups were prevalent on the continent with power shifts being accompanied by violence and force.
During the 1990s and 2010s, participatory politics gained traction, and the percentage of African nations that had democratic elections increased from 7% to 40%. Eighteen (18) African countries were categorised as electoral democracies by Freedom House by 2010. There has been a general trend over the last 20 years towards more political accountability, with politicians and political parties being spotlighted more and more on how they acquire and hold onto power.
In nations like Benin, Cape Verde, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, and South Africa, elections have been successful in establishing democratic administrations. In the meantime, countries like Guinea, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone that have more recently emerged from protracted civil wars and dictatorial governance have experienced increased stability.
As we commemorate our democracies, the unique issues of the digital age are posing a greater threat to this stability. All of which may be summed up as “digital authoritarianism.”
To squash dissent and reduce civic engagement, governments around the continent are using censorship, targeted monitoring, internet shutdowns, and restrictive legislation. In addition to undermining democracy, these measures have serious negative social and economic repercussions and foster a culture in which technology is used as a weapon against the very democratic processes it needs to support.
Adding to these complexities is the emergence of disinformation and misinformation, which is influencing public opinion and compromising electoral integrity. According to reports, entities in South Africa and Rwanda have employed deep fakes and artificial intelligence (AI)-generated synthetic media to sway public opinion. This has proven difficult for social media platforms to handle, and where they have, the results have been uneven around the continent and in comparison to efforts deployed toward the global minority. Access to reliable information is hampered by the spread of misinformation, which also undermines public confidence in democratic processes.
Our commitment toward election integrity birthed the initiative known as “DREAM,” a play on the word dream and our hope for the continent but also to mean Digital Rights and elections in Africa Meetings. Recognising that the solution to digital authoritarianism requires coordinated efforts to safeguard digital rights, bridge the digital divide, and ensure the ethical use of technology in elections tailored to each country’s needs.
The Digital Rights and Election in Africa meetings (DREAM) brings key elections stakeholders together to discuss the protection of digital rights and to raise awareness and educate stakeholders on the importance of digital rights in the election process. Variations of this project have been executed in Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone. All with the mission of ensuring the protection of digital rights before, during, and after the elections, and offering support through collaborations with social media platforms and other relevant stakeholders to make credible, verifiable, and independent information accessible to citizens at all times.
On October 30th 2024 we hosted the ghanaian edition termed the “National Integrity Forum” in collaboration with in-country partners Internet Society Ghana(ISOC Ghana), Community Focus Foundation (CFF), and E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA).
The meeting commenced with remarks from partners emphasising the importance of safeguarding election integrity and fostering democracy in Ghana. Speakers, including representatives from the above listed partners outlined the need for constructive dialogue to ensure free and fair elections while addressing potential challenges like internet shutdowns and misinformation. Dr. Winnifred Nafisa Mahama of the Ministry of Communication highlighted the government’s efforts to combat misinformation through legislative tools and media literacy initiatives. She called on stakeholders to work collaboratively to preserve electoral integrity and promote public awareness of digital rights.
Presentations dived into the growing threats of misinformation, disinformation, and internet shutdowns during elections. Speakers like Emmanuel Gadasu and Mensah Thompson discussed how these challenges could erode public trust, manipulate voter sentiment, and hinder transparency. Strategies for addressing these issues included fostering digital literacy, fact-checking, and advocating for internet accessibility during elections. The need for collaboration between government, civil society, and tech platforms to combat disinformation and enhance public engagement was also emphasised.
Discussions extended to the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in promoting digital inclusion and the responsibilities of political parties in ensuring transparent elections. Panelists and party representatives highlighted the importance of strengthening institutions, upholding digital rights, and avoiding actions that might compromise election credibility. Stakeholders were urged to collaborate on innovative solutions, including digital literacy initiatives and frameworks to protect digital rights, while maintaining a focus on accountability and transparency as Ghana prepares for its upcoming elections.
Summary of Commitments and Recommendations from DREAM Ghana
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Commitments from Stakeholders
- Civil Society Organisations (CSOs):
CSOs pledged to empower citizens by disseminating accurate information on electoral processes and committed to holding the government accountable by highlighting public concerns and issues affecting citizens. Again, CSOs agreed to engage development partners and state institutions to address digital rights abuses and promote election transparency. A commitment was made to work with media platforms to establish a code of conduct for election reporting, reducing the spread of misinformation.
- Development Agencies:
Development partners emphasised the importance of safeguarding internet freedom and supporting CSOs in democratic advocacy efforts.They committed to active participation in discussions surrounding digital rights and safeguarding democratic processes in Ghana. They advocated for vigilance and awareness to prevent internet restrictions that could affect the transparency of the elections.
- Political Parties:
Political parties committed to maintaining responsible communication with constituents, avoiding incitement, and supporting fair digital practices. They agreed on the importance of digital rights and media freedom in ensuring a credible electoral process.
- Government and Regulatory Agencies:
The government committed to refraining from using state agencies to intimidate or influence the population through fear. Regulatory agencies acknowledged the need to improve transparency and accountability by supporting digital rights protections and fair media practices.
2. Recommendations and Lessons Learnt
- Empowering Citizens and Ensuring Transparency
CSOs should employ grassroots approaches to educate citizens on electoral processes and digital rights. A structured code of conduct for media operations during election periods should be implemented to ensure responsible journalism.
- Internet Freedom:
It is strongly recommended that the government publicly commit to refraining from internet shutdowns or restrictions during elections to uphold the principles of open and fair electoral practices.
- Collaboration with Development Partners:
Development partners and the international community should monitor Ghana’s digital rights landscape and support initiatives that promote transparency and accountability.
- Misinformation Management:
Establishing fake news detection systems and clear guidelines for online platforms, including collaboration with social media providers, is critical to addressing election misinformation and disinformation.
- Legislative Review:
The Ghanaian Constitution requires revision, particularly concerning appointments within institutions, to ensure accountability and impartiality during elections.
- Maintaining Democratic Standards:
Stakeholders are urged to treat emerging threats to Ghana’s democracy with the same caution applied to other nations facing similar challenges to preserve the nation’s democratic integrity.
In the lead up to the elections in the coming days we recommend that all stakeholders remember and adhere to their commitments. Paradigm Initiative urges stakeholders to take advantage of tools developed to ensure digital protection during these times such as the Ayeta toolkit which has its previous edition translated to the Akan language. We further urge stakeholders to use our digital rights reporting platform “Ripoti” to document and record how Ghana fairs in these times. In this pivotal election for Africa, we look to Ghana as a beacon for an example to follow in future elections to hold on the continent, which will be extensively documented and scored on the Londa report of 2024.
Good luck Ghana, we are rooting for you!
Stakeholders in attendance include:
List of Political Parties
New Patriotic Party (NPP)
National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Great Consolidated People’s Party (GCPP)
All people’s Congress (APC)
Independent candidate
List of Government Agencies
Information Service Dept., Ministry of Information
Ghana Domain Name Registry (GDNR)
Judicial Training Institute (JTI)
Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ-Ghana)
Tech Platform
TikTok
Religious Leaders
Clergy
Academia
The University of Ghana (UG),
University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
CSOs
Paradigm Initiative (PIN)
Internet Society (ISOC)
EGIGFA
CFFgh
Access Now
Girls Advocacy Network
Open Knowledge Ghana
PIHAM – Africa
Good Governance Advocacy Centre
The Writer is Paradigm Initiative’s Senior Officer, Programmes (Anglophone West Africa).