By: Roberta Gayode Modin
In an age where information flows freely and rapidly through the digital highways of the internet, Africa stands as a vast and diverse continent, both rich in culture and teeming with a multitude of voices. Yet, amid this technological revolution, there is a growing shadow that looms over the information landscape—disinformation.
In light of this, Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission, Mr. George Sarpong has alarmed the use of Africa’s information space as a weapon against democracy and disinformation especially by the world superpowers, pointing out the need to protect Africa’s space.
According to him, Africa’s possession of mineral resources which is the driver of the next stage of development makes it a hotspot for the West because further global civilization and development relies on who owns and controls the continent.
Speaking at the 2023 Africast Conference in Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of NMC described disinformation as a threat to the continent’s peace and security.
“What we are dealing with is much bigger than the question of inaccuracy and simple errors in journalism. We are dealing with a well-coordinated program of distraction that threatens the peace and security of Africa,” he elaborated.
He added that cited China’s dominance of the device market and broadcasting distribution platform gives it an upper hand in the control of the information space and called Africa to develop its own platform.
He therefore called for a stronger collaboration between Corporate Social Organizations and regulators of the communication space to protect the information integrity of Africa and to also curb the increasing disinformation within the technological and communication space.
