Post a comment 
The ECOWAS Resident Office, in partnership with GIZ and the Media Foundation for West Africa, held a two-day workshop for journalists and media professionals on information integrity and combating misinformation and disinformation.
The training brought together young journalists from radio, television, online platforms, print media, and academia. Its goal was to strengthen participants’ skills in identifying false information and promoting accurate reporting across West Africa.
Delivering the keynote on behalf of ECOWAS President H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, Country Representative Ambassador John Azumah highlighted the media’s crucial role in shaping public perception and protecting democratic spaces. He noted that misinformation threatens society, erodes trust, and can fuel conflict, and called on participants to uphold professional ethics.
Ambassador Azumah also linked the initiative to ECOWAS Vision 2050, which focuses on peace and security, economic integration, democratic governance, social inclusion, and sustainable development—all of which rely on an informed and responsible media sector. He mentioned that similar trainings have been conducted in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and The Gambia.
Mr. Kevin Kallay, representing the ECOWAS National Office within Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, said the workshop was a “crucial platform to combat misinformation in the digital age,” emphasizing journalists’ responsibility to provide accurate, trustworthy information.
Mr. Johannes Behrens, representing GIZ and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, highlighted Germany’s support for media integrity in West Africa and noted the risks misinformation poses to governance, security, and development.
The workshop included sessions on fact-checking, digital literacy, peace journalism, conflict-sensitive reporting, AI tools for information verification, and building networks for collaboration with ECOWAS.
The program concluded with closing remarks urging participants to apply their new skills, underscoring that integrity in journalism is essential for peace, democracy, and sustainable development.
