President Akufo Addo has rubbished the Agyapadie document which resurfaced recently, outlining a supposed strategy for indigenes of the Akyem kingdom to dominate Ghana.
The Agyapadie document alleges a grand scheme by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to annex state assets.
According to President Akufo-Addo, this fabricated document has been circulated by opposition operatives as evidence of the NPP’s supposed plans.
“This baseless accusation is yet another example of the malicious tactics used to undermine my credibility and integrity,” the President stated.
Detailing how fake stories were shared about him in previous and upcoming elections by the opposition, President Akufo Addo stated that allegations of drug trafficking were spread to tarnish his image. He also disclosed that rumors about his health were also circulated to cast doubt on his ability to serve as President.
Opponents accused then-President John Kufuor of selling all of Ghana’s gold reserves, a claim that was patently false according to President Akufo Addo.
The 2012 election cycle saw a continuation with reports of Akufo-Addo’s alleged arrest in London for drug possession making headlines.
In 2016, allegations that Akufo-Addo had killed his late wife, a claim that was not only false but deeply offensive.
“As the 2024 General Elections approach, the Agyapadie document is the latest in a series of lies aimed at discrediting me and my party.
“This fictitious narrative, like the ones before it, highlights the importance of discerning truth from falsehood and remaining vigilant against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation”, Ghana’s leaders stated.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized that combating misinformation and disinformation requires a multi-faceted approach. Strengthening regulatory frameworks to hold individuals and organizations accountable for spreading false information is crucial. Collaborations with technology companies are essential to developing mechanisms for monitoring and curbing the spread of false information on digital platforms.
In his address, President Akufo-Addo stressed the need for all political actors to commit to truthfulness and transparency in their campaigns. The spread of false information for political gain undermines the democratic process and erodes public trust. Political parties and candidates must engage in constructive dialogue, presenting their ideas and policies to the electorate in a truthful and respectful manner.
Ghana Report Summit on the theme Dealing with misinformation and Disinformation in election 2024 in Accra saw diverse groups of speakers and panelists who shared their insights and expertise in the role of traditional media, social media, and political parties in mitigating the impact of false information
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Awisi Dede Djangay
