The State of Mis/Disinformation, Polarisation and State Threat to Ghana

Abstract

Information disorder and other public discourse misconducts pervert the will of citizens and undermine public trust in democratic processes and institutions. In Ghana, the surge in information disorder presents a formidable threat to democratic sustenance, includingelections. This exploratory study sought to ascertain the state of mis/disinformation, hate speech, polarising narratives, and state threat to Ghana. This study further analysed the nature of the threat, and identified the key actors, platforms, and mechanisms for driving these threats. It also analysed the role of social media in the dissemination of these narratives. Again, the study assessed the impact of these narratives on public perception, information integrity, election integrity and democratic consolidation in Ghana. The study provided recommendations for mitigating these threats, and promoting fact-based public discourse.