President Nana Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has recounted numerous false accusations made against him by the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC by spreading falsehoods that he killed his late wife just to tarnish his image and reputation.
According to him “2008 saw baseless accusations of drug trafficking against me, coupled with numerous rumors about my health, adding that “These were intended to cast doubts on my ability to serve as President.”
Reflecting on the 2012 election, Akufo-Addo recounted, “The 2012 election saw false reports of my alleged arrest in London for drug possession and fabricated quotes designed to incite ethnic tension. In 2016, it was alleged by sympathizers of the opposition that I had killed my late wife.”
President Akufo-Addo said this when speaking at the Ghana Report Summit at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel on “Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation – Election 2024’’.
He expressed worries over the damaging effects of misinformation and disinformation on political processes and personal reputations, adding that similar falsehoods were faced by former President Kufuor.
“President Kufuor was also accused in 2008 of having sold all of Ghana’s gold reserves. Today, a fabricated document entitled ‘Agyapadie’ is being circulated by operatives of the opposition as evidence of a grand scheme by my party to annex state assets,’’ he stated.
He also underscored the importance of discerning truth from falsehoods and remaining vigilant against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation.
“These experiences underscore the importance of discerning truth from falsehoods and the need for all of us to remain vigilant against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation,” he stated.
He stressed that campaigns based on misinformation often exploit societal divisions and amplify existing tensions, posing a significant risk to social cohesion and potentially inciting violence while disrupting public order.
“As we approach the 2024 general elections, we have to address these challenges head-on. We should take proactive measures to curb the spread of false information and ensure that the public has access to accurate and reliable information,” he urged.
BY Daniel Bampoe