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At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many communities across the Kumbungu District in the Northern Region were unsettled by rumours of a possible outbreak of the virus.
Social media, mobile phones, and word of mouth became the primary channels through which residents accessed information. However, these same channels were the basket through which misinformation was being spread.
Community members were warned that the virus had been detected in nearby villages and were urged to remain vigilant.
Although the claims appeared credible at face value, some residents turned to Simli Radio, the only community radio station serving the area, to verify the information.
The hope they sought was nurtured and sustained by redefined journalistic norms in the station’s newsroom in Dalun, where rumours about the pandemic were rigorously verified by engaging with appropriate authorities, including the Ghana Health Service and local authorities, and by cross-checking facts with multiple credible sources.
Another aspect of the protocol they established was that after confirming that no such outbreak had been recorded in the affected communities, the station would broadcast the clarification through its news bulletins and discuss the issue on its programmes to inform listeners that the rumour was false. These clarifications helped calm fears and stopped the misinformation from spreading further.
Six years later, that moment remains a defining example of how Simli Community Radio has changed the way a community exposed to growing levels of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation now consumes verified information.
What began as an emergency response during the pandemic has since evolved into a structured, community-based verification system within the newsroom. The Station Manager of Simli Radio, Abukari Abdul-Rahaman, explained that through this system, the station allows listeners to actively participate in identifying and verifying claims circulating within their respective communities.
He said that, most often, community members report rumours and suspicious claims to the station through phone calls or live phone-ins during programmes.
He indicated that the journalists then verify these claims before broadcasting in Dagbani and other local dialects, adding that “verification involves consulting relevant authorities such as the chiefs, civil society organisations, government officials, and also using verification tools such as Google Reverse Image.”
Situation
Misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation have become major global concerns, influencing public opinion, democratic processes, public health decisions, and social cohesion.
According to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the situation has become increasingly prevalent in Ghana with the evolution of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok. While these platforms have improved access to information, they have also accelerated the spread of false and misleading content.
The scale of the challenge became evident during Ghana’s 2024 general elections, when the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition recorded more than 100 false publications.
Of the false publications recorded, 85.3 per cent of the false narratives were spread on social media, followed by 8.8 per cent on television stations, 4.4 per cent on news websites, and 1.5 per cent on radio stations.
The situation is more pronounced in rural areas due to the high level of illiteracy.
The growing threat has prompted national conversations on how to protect Ghana’s information ecosystem. In response, the government has developed the Information Integrity Bill, also known as the Misinformation, Disinformation and Hate Speech Bill, which is currently being scrutinised by Civil Society Organisations.
When enacted, the legal framework will address the deliberate spread of misinformation and disinformation while balancing constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression.
Local language broadcasting
Located in Dalun, in the Kumbungu District, Simli Community Radio serves about 800 remote communities, reaching over 2000 households.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Simli Radio’s approach is its use of local languages.
While many fact-checking platforms operate primarily in English, Simli Radio delivers its verification content in Dagbani and other local languages spoken within its coverage area.
Such an approach, Mr Abdul-Rahaman indicated, ensures fact-checks are accessible to audiences who may not engage with English-language media or online fact-checking reports.
He further explained that “when misinformation is identified, presenters do not simply announce that a claim is false. They explain why it is false, how it was verified, and what listeners should rely on instead.”
Empowering community radio
Experts believe community radio stations remain one of Ghana’s strongest defenses against misinformation.
The Executive Director of FactSpace West Africa, Rabiu Alhassan, noted that misinformation and disinformation have become among the most significant challenges confronting societies worldwide.
He indicated that the country faced a growing challenge as internet access and smartphone ownership continued to expand, while many users lacked the skills to distinguish credible information from falsehoods.
For him, empowering community radio stations was critical for fighting misinformation and disinformation in the rural areas.
He argued that “I actually think that any strategy to counter misinformation and disinformation in Ghana that does not place community radio stations at the centre is bound to fail.”
Mr Alhassan said the use of local language also enhances trust, as information delivered by familiar voices in a familiar language often carries greater credibility than anonymous messages circulating online.
Photo: Rabiu Alhassan, Executive Director of FactSpace West Africa
Novel approach
For her part, a communications lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Jamilatu Saaka Dramani, pointed out that rural communities are often more vulnerable to misinformation because they have limited access to diverse and verified sources of information.
She described the verification approach adopted by Simli community radio as a novelty, as it enables target audience listeners to participate in the process through call-in programmes and local-language discussions rather than being passive recipients.
She noted that community radio remains one of the most trusted sources of information in rural areas because it is deeply embedded in the social, cultural, and linguistic realities of the communities it serves.
“National policies and urban-based fact-checking platforms are important, but they are not enough. Misinformation must be addressed in the languages, formats, and social contexts in which it circulates.”
“Simli Radio demonstrates how journalism, community participation, and media literacy can work together to strengthen information resilience in rural communities,” the communications scholar stated.
Photo: Jamilatu Saaka Dramani, Communications Lecturer at the University for Development Studies
Challenges
Like many community radio stations, Simli Radio operates with limited financial and human resources. However, fact-checking requires time, training, and access to reliable sources.
For instance, a claim can spread across an entire community within a minute, while verification may take hours or days.
According to the Station Manager, the station also faces the challenge of reaching younger audiences, who increasingly rely on digital platforms for information.
Nonetheless, he said the station was leveraging its limited resources and expertise to combat misinformation in its coverage areas.
Audience reaction
Some audience members lauded the station for taking steps to verify claims, saying it remained the most trusted and credible source of information in the area.
A listener, Mariama Ibrahim, said, “During COVID-19, people were sharing all kinds of messages. When I heard about the supposed outbreak in nearby communities, I became worried. But after Simli Radio explained that it was not true, I felt relieved. Since then, I do not easily believe every message I receive.”
“Many people here depend on the radio because not everyone has internet access. When Simli Radio explains issues in Dagbani, we understand them better. It helps us know what is true and what is not,” says Yakubu Haruna, a listener.
Way forward
As misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation continue to spread through digital platforms, the work of community media is becoming increasingly important. UNESCO has warned that misinformation and disinformation pose growing risks to public trust and social cohesion.
In a 2024 global survey, the organisation found that 62 per cent of digital content creators did not systematically verify information before sharing it with their audiences. The finding underscored the need for local verification initiatives such as Simli Community Radio’s community-based verification system, which seeks to ensure that information reaching communities is accurate and trustworthy.
Therefore, there is a need for fact-checking organisations and civil society organisations to build the capacity of community radio stations and journalists to strengthen verification systems and fight against misinformation within rural communities.
This report was produced under the 2026 SAIL Investigative, Fact-checking and Solution Journalism Fellowship hosted by DUBAWA with support from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
