ECOWAS moves to curb disinformation in sub-region

The Economic Community of West African States has launched an initiative to enhance its collaboration with government-owned media across the region.

The effort aims to promote accurate reporting of ECOWAS activities and tackle the growing issue of disinformation.

The event, themed ‘Strategic Engagement with Public Media Actors in Our Member States to Strengthen Collaboration and Positive Coverage of ECOWAS Programmes and to Combat Disinformation in West Africa,’ coincides with ECOWAS’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.

On Thursday, the Chief of Staff in the Office of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Hon. Abdou Kolley, addressed media leaders from across West Africa at the inaugural high-level consultative meeting in Abuja.

Organised in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa, the two-day event is part of a broader effort to ensure media outlets serve as key partners in promoting ECOWAS’s mission of regional integration, peace, and development.

In his address, delivered on behalf of ECOWAS President Dr. Omar Touray, Kolley stressed the critical role that the media plays in shaping public opinion and influencing the socio-political landscape.

He noted that misinformation, particularly on social media, remains a significant challenge for the organisation, making accurate media coverage essential.

“The ECOWAS Commission recognises the media as one of our indispensable and critical stakeholders.

“As gatekeepers and purveyors of information, we are fully aware of the important role of the media in creating and maintaining goodwill and mutual understanding between the Commission and its people.

“This explains why the Commission has convened this important stakeholders’ meeting with the heads of government-owned broadcast stations as part of our ongoing efforts to proactively broaden our engagement and strengthen our collaboration with the media towards achieving our common and shared vision as encapsulated by our Vision 2050, on the eve of the celebration of 50 years of our institution,” he noted.

Kolley stressed that the media’s role in countering false narratives and raising awareness about ECOWAS’s achievements is crucial for fostering regional unity and public trust.

The meeting comes at a time when West Africa is facing multiple challenges, including political instability, economic pressures, and a surge in misinformation across digital platforms.

The Chief of Staff said the partnership between ECOWAS and the MFWA, formalised in December 2023, aims to build media capacity in tackling these challenges.

The collaboration will focus on promoting democratic values, countering disinformation, and fostering peace in the region.

Kolley also shared highlights from the 2024 Interim Report on the state of ECOWAS institutions, pointing to progress in economic integration, peacebuilding efforts, and humanitarian responses.

However, he noted that misinformation often overshadows these achievements, which is why ECOWAS is keen to deepen its media partnerships.

“The summary presentation of the results recorded during the first half of 2024 shows that ECOWAS is making a definite effort to support its Member States.

“Unfortunately, our populations are not very well informed about these efforts. Instead, they are inundated with false information deliberately disseminated by certain vile individuals via social media to undermine our common institution.

“Indeed, as is often said, the absence of credible information is a breeding ground for disinformation,” the Chief of Staff lamented.

Kolley called on media partners to continue working closely with ECOWAS to inform and engage the public, ensuring that the organisation’s work is well understood and appreciated across West Africa.

“I therefore hope that by the end of this two-day interactive meeting, the Commission will be in a better position to: coordinate with national media partners to raise awareness of ECOWAS and its activities in the Member States among the citizens of the Community by increasing media programmes on ECOWAS as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of our institution.

“Strengthen the capacity of the media in the Member States to contribute to the reinforcement of democratic values and peace through media initiatives focusing on combating narratives of violent extremism and radicalisation, and combating misinformation,” he added.