Penplusbytes Trains Journalists to Combat Local Language Misinformation
Penplusbytes has trained journalists and government information officers from five northern regions of Ghana as part of efforts to tackle the growing spread of misinformation, particularly through local language platforms.
The three-day workshop, held in Tamale, brought together media practitioners and staff of the Information Services Department from the Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper West and Upper East regions.
Speaking at the training, Executive Director of Penplusbytes, Jerry Sam, said false information spreads rapidly through local language broadcasts, making it difficult for fact-checkers to respond quickly.
He explained that verifying claims made in local languages remains a challenge because such information is often harder to trace and authenticate compared to content produced in English.
According to him, the situation has allowed misleading narratives to spread widely within communities before corrective information can reach the public.
The training focused on equipping participants with skills to identify, verify and counter false claims across traditional and digital media platforms.
The workshop forms part of the Ghana Anti-Disinformation Coalition project, an initiative launched by Penplusbytes with support from the Government of Norway to address the spread of misinformation in Ghana.
The three-year project focuses on research into local language disinformation, the development of an artificial intelligence-powered fact-checking platform known as Kasadadi, and collaboration among media organisations, civil society groups, technology partners and government institutions.
Penplusbytes’ Head of Programmes, Precious Ankomah, urged journalists to make fact-checking part of their daily reporting process as misinformation continues to increase across radio, television and online platforms.
Participants at the workshop expressed appreciation for the training and said they would apply the knowledge gained in their newsrooms while also sharing the lessons with colleagues.
