The Ghana School of Law, in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, successfully hosted a public lecture focused on combating misinformation and addressing its threat to democracy in the digital age.
The lecture, held on April 11, 2025, at the Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER) at the University of Ghana, was themed “Misinformation, Democracy, Security: The Legal Response in a Digital Age and the Promotion of Information Integrity.”
Speaking at the event, former deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, emphasized the need for careful legal approaches that balance promoting accurate information with protecting free speech. He warned against passing laws that may unintentionally reintroduce criminal libel under a new guise.
“There is a delicate balance between promoting accurate information and safeguarding free speech. We must be cautious not to pass laws that may suppress dissent or bring us back to the era of criminal libel.”
Country Director of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Anna Lena Sabruso Wasserfall, who also delivered a keynote, referenced the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risk Report, which ranked disinformation as the top threat to global peace and stability—surpassing cybercrime, interstate conflict, and environmental crises.
“Disinformation, especially when amplified by AI, was ranked as the number one global risk. Its threat to democratic institutions, peace, and stability cannot be underestimated.”
The Ghana School of Law’s initiative aimed to raise awareness about the legal implications of misinformation and to empower citizens and stakeholders with the knowledge needed to safeguard democracy in the digital era.
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Story by: Wilhemina Naa Momo Nii-Moi | univers.ug.edu.gh
Editor: Wahab Abdul Razak
