Dubawa

A tense but necessary conversation about truth, profit, and responsibility unfolded across West Africa’s digital space on Friday (27 February) evening as media practitioners, bloggers, and policy actors gathered for a regional webinar organised by Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), DUBAWA, and the European Union (EU).

With over 900 people in attendance, the virtual forum, themed “Reducing Commercialisation of Disinformation through Responsible Blogging and Content Creation”, came at a moment when digital falsehoods are no longer treated as mere online nuisances but as threats to democracy, public safety, and national security. 

Yet even before the first speaker logged on, the event had already ignited controversy. 

The “elephant in the room” 

At the centre of the public backlash was the inclusion of Ghanaian blogger, Nat Hyde, widely known as Bongo Ideas, whose provocative online style has often drawn accusations of sensationalism. 

Petitions circulated on social media urging organisers to drop him, who many argue is a habitual disinformer and thus the wrong person to speak on the topic of disinformation. 

Rather than avoid the backlash, the organisers’ solution was to proceed with the objective firmly in mind, which was, to have a conversation with a carefully selected panel. 

Deputy EU Ambassador, Jonas Claes, opened the session by acknowledging what he called “the elephant in the room.” 

He stressed that the purpose of the forum was not to reward personalities but to create space for uncomfortable yet necessary dialogue. 

“We do not organise a panel like this as a reward or to showcase individual bloggers,” he said, adding, we adhere to an open debate culture involving differing, dissenting, sometimes even uncomfortable opinions. I learn the most from those.” 

He framed the passionate public response as evidence of Ghana’s democratic maturity and of the sensitivity and consequences the monetisation of disinformation has become. 

Guiding the conversation was broadcaster and journalist, Naa Ashorkor, who reminded participants that the ethical tension between speed and responsibility predates social media. 

From her journalism training, she recalled, sensational headlines may sell quickly but can permanently damage lives. 

Defining the Business of Disinformation

The next segment grounded the discussion in research and evidence. Maxine Danso, International Expansion Lead at CJID, broke down what experts describe as the commercialisation of disinformation: the deliberate production of misleading or false content designed primarily to generate engagement and revenue. She explained that modern digital platforms reward virality above accuracy. 

The more clicks, shares, and reactions a post attracts, the more money it can generate. This incentive structure, she said, has created an economy where outrage and fabrication often outperform careful reporting. 

Her examples ranged from clickbait headlines and sensational distortions to misinformation, the malicious release of private but genuine information, and the growing use of artificial intelligence to create deepfakes that mimic faces and voices. 

These tactics, she noted, follow recognisable behavioural patterns that researchers use to identify intentional harm. 

Backed by a global context, legal practitioner and DUBAWA researcher, Austin Brako-Powers, pointed to international risk assessments that now rank disinformation among the most serious global threats. 

When falsehoods are amplified for profit, he argued, citizens lose the ability to distinguish fact from fiction, a dangerous condition for any democracy. 

But it was the lived experiences of the bloggers themselves that gave the conversation its sharpest edge. Across West Africa’s fast-moving digital ecosystem, many creators operate without newsrooms, editors, or legal teams. 

The pressure to be first to publish can be overwhelming. Inside the blogging pressure cooker Liberian blogger, Kerkula Blama, admitted that this “pressure cooker” environment has often meant sharing information without adequate verification. 

“Picking and sharing, picking and sharing,” he described, recalling one incident where prematurely reporting the death of a well-known figure nearly landed him in jail. 

The scare forced him to rethink his workflow and prioritise fact-checking over speed. Ghanaian content creator, Philomena Antonio, recounted a similar lesson. 

After publishing a story from what she believed was a reliable source, she quickly learned it was inaccurate. She deleted the post and publicly corrected herself, choosing transparency over defensiveness to protect her credibility. 

Digital strategist, Kobby Spiky Nkrumah, echoed the risks, noting that rushed posts have triggered legal threats and demands for retractions. 

Those moments, he said, are stark reminders that online publishing carries real-world consequences. 

A dissenting voice 

Yet the most anticipated intervention came from Hyde himself. 

Addressing his critics directly, he acknowledged his “checkered reputation” but challenged how the term disinformation is often applied. 

For him, the key element is intent. False information only becomes disinformation, he argued, when it is deliberately crafted to deceive. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever put out something that I know in my heart of hearts is false,” he maintained. 

While he has sometimes complied with requests to retract posts, he said, he resists constant apologies, believing that excessive backtracking could damage his brand. 

His remarks did not erase disagreements, but they underscored the complexity of regulating online speech where personal conviction, public impact, and commercial incentives intersect. 

Toward information integrity As the discussion drew to a close, the focus shifted from diagnosis to solutions. 

Panelists agreed that while disinformation must be curtailed, enforcement should not rely solely on punitive sanctions that risk suppressing free expression. Instead, they called for stronger fact-checking habits, transparent corrections, and platform systems that discourage engagement-driven falsehoods. 

The forum concluded with participating bloggers and organisers all pledging to promote responsible content creation.

The commitment includes verifying information before publication, avoiding sensational or misleading headlines for traffic, promptly retracting inaccurate posts, and issuing public apologies when errors occur. 

Speakers said the goal is to reduce the financial incentives that reward viral falsehoods while strengthening credibility and trust with audiences. 

The pledge, organisers noted, is intended as a practical first step toward raising professional standards across West Africa’s fast-growing digital media space, where independent creators now shape public discourse as much as traditional newsrooms. 

The event is part of “See the Pattern” Campaign: Launched in January 2026 by the EU and DUBAWA, to strengthen information integrity in Ghana and the West African sub-region.

An Accra High Court presided over by Her Ladyship Sedina Agbemeva has granted an application by DUBAWA to tender a video recording in which a key suspect is heard admitting to buying expired products from Fareast Mercantile and selling them to consumers.

Despite vehement opposition to the tendering of the evidence by Fareast Mercantile, the plaintiff in the case, the judge insisted that the evidence in question was “relevant” and “central” to the case, even though the defendants were negligent in failing to attach the video to their list of exhibits.

She, however, awarded a cost of ₵8,000.00 against the defendants, in what will be her first ruling in a case that has entered its fourth year with three different justices presiding at different points.

She will adopt the records as the new judge on the next adjourned date.

Background

One of Ghana’s biggest wholesale traders, Fareast Mercantile, filed a defamation suit in early 2022 against fact-checking and verification organisation DUBAWA over the serial publication of an investigative piece titled “Consuming Trash: Unravelling the multi-million dollar business in Ghana’s expired products.”

The fact-checking organisation had published six of its investigations, including pictures, videos, and email conversations from top management members of Fareast approving the sale of expired products, including McVitie’s biscuits.

The published stories also contained pictures and videos of Sarpong, the suspect who was arrested by a contingent of police officers at the Criminal Investigative Department and by officials of the Food and Drugs Authority, along with a truckload of expired Glade Mini bought from the plaintiff’s company, Fareast Mercantile.

DUBAWA had tracked the operations of Sarpong, Fareast Mercantile, and other dealers in expired products for months, leading to Sarpong’s arrest on March 31, 2022.

The Food and Drugs Authority, after reviewing the evidence provided by DUBAWA and participating in the investigation, found that Fareast Mercantile had breached 10 laws and guidelines under Ghana’s Public Health and Food and Drugs Authority’s guidelines, and fined them ₵50,000.00 for each of the 10 breaches.

Just when DUBAWA was about to air its publicised documentary about the consuming trash investigation, Fareast Mercentile proceeded to court to stop DUBAWA from airing the documentary and asked the court to issue an injunction against its publication until the substantive defamation case is settled.

The court granted Fareast Mercantile’s application, and the matter has since been in court, with the plaintiff closing its case and the defendant’s witness still under cross-examination.

Sarpong’s video

During cross-examination, the First Defendant, Nathan Gadugah, who is Editor for DUBAWA Ghana, had repeatedly cited the presence of the video in which Sarpong, the arrested suspect in the Consuming Thrash investigation, had confessed to selling expired products from the plaintiff’s company for the past eight years.

He therefore applied to tender the video evidence, which he thought was part of the maze of exhibits he had already submitted to the court.

Counsel for the plaintiff objected to the tendering of the evidence, accusing the defendant of attempting to introduce a new element in the trial.

He told the court the application was too late, given that the plaintiff’s witness had already closed its case, adding that any attempt to amend the defendant’s case would mean the entire case would have to start over.

Counsel for the Defendant, Samson Lardy Anyenini, argued that the application was neither an amendment nor the introduction of a new element. He argued that the narrative about the video’s content was part of the witness statement from the very outset.

He argued further that as long as the witness was still under cross-examination, he was entitled to make that application.

After hearing the strength of the arguments from both lawyers, Her Ladyship granted the application, insisting that it was not an amendment to the witness statement. She added that the application will not occasion a re-litigation of the matter, insisting the plaintiff still has the opportunity to cross-examine the defendant witness on the matter of the video’s content.

The case has been adjourned to March 3, 2026.

Claim: An X user shared a video claiming that two men who confronted soldiers during the voting exercise in Obuasi East are now receiving treatment in a hospital. (Source: @RoGoat7 (X) (Archived here).

Verdict: True.

Explanation: We compared the video of the two men in a hospital with the video of the scuffle and found them to be the same people.  Although their shirts were now off, the men were still wearing the same trousers spotted in the initial video. Similarly, an unidentified man who appeared in the scuffle video was also seen with them at the hospital. The X user’s claim is, therefore, true.

Claim: New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia is giving out an instant cash prize from his campaign fund. (Source: Social Media, WhatsApp)

Verdict: Hoax

Verification

An initial attempt to access the link provided in the message triggered malware advice, indicating that the

site is malicious and that access to it could be risky.

When the Coalition ran a check on the website URL through the website credibility tool Virus Total, 10 security vendors had flagged the URL as phishing, malware and malicious.

Claim: A flyer on social media claiming  that the dollar equivalent of the National Service Scheme (NSS) allowance of ₵559 in 2016 and ₵715 in 2024 were $143.33 and $42.29, respectively.

Verdict: False

Verification

The Cedi traded at ₵4.275 to the dollar as of December 31, 2016, when the NSS monthly allowance was ₵559. Therefore, the dollar equivalent of ₵559 was $130.760 after dividing the monthly NSS allowance by ₵4.275, not $143.33. Also, the NSS allowance as of December 5, 2024, is ₵715 after it increased in July 2023. The Bank of Ghana’s exchange rate as of December 5, 2024, is $1 to  ₵14.9125. With the dollar trading at ₵14.9125, the dollar equivalent of ₵715 is $47.9463, not $42.29 as claimed.

Claim: An X user, @edemgilbert, has shared an audio in which he accuses John Mahama, the 2024 NDC flagbearer, of plotting with Electoral Commission officials to rig the election in the Ashanti region. (Source: Dr. Gilbert Edem (X.com/) (archived)

Verdict: False

Verification

There is no evidence that the voices in the audio are those of John Mahama and an Electoral Commission official in the Ashanti Region. A content analysis conducted on the audio revealed some discrepancies. In the audio, the alleged EC official was asked if he was the “Leading Returning Officer,” he responded that he was the group leader. The Electoral Commission’s organisational structure does not have a role called Leading Returning Officer. Regulation 2 of the Public Elections Regulation, 2020 (C.I. 127) provides that the Commission shall appoint Returning Officers in the various constituencies for Parliamentary elections. Also, in the audio, the alleged EC officer was asked if he had initiated the plan, and he responded “We are done with nine, and we are left with seven.” However, the Ashanti Region has 48 constituencies, not 16. Therefore, the region has 48 Returning officers. There is no evidence to support the allegations. 

With just three days to Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections, the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition has launched a campaign to promote accurate information before, during, and after the December 7 polls.

Led by three International Fact-Checking Network signatories—Dubawa, Ghana Facts, and Fact-Check Ghana—alongside media and civic partners, the coalition will provide fact-checked reports and analyses of potentially false or misleading claims shared by political actors and their allies.

From 4–11 December, the coalition aims to empower citizens with verified information to counter disinformation. This report highlights claims fact-checked on day one.

Claim 1 : An X user, @OfficialBigkay, claims an NDC supporter had cut off the thumb of an NPP member in Bolgatanga.

Verdict: Misleading

Verification

Our findings reveal that a man’s thumb was cut off following an altercation with another person. However, the incident had nothing to do with the two leading political parties, NDC and NPP. Checks by the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition indicate the incident occurred in Prestea in the Prestea-Huni Valley District of the Western region, not in Bolgatanga

Claim 2: Multiple sources say the 2024 NDC flagbearer, John Mahama, won the Special voting exercise conducted on December 2, 2024. 

Verdict: False

Explanation

The ballots cast during the Special Voting exercise have yet to be counted. The Electoral Commission has explained that the Special Voting ballots will be counted at the various Constituency Collation Centres after the polls close on December 7, 2024. Also, Regulation 23 of the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (C.I. 127) provides that after the Special Voting exercise, the returning officer shall “ensure that the ballot boxes are kept in safe custody after the poll has closed.” 

Claim 3: A viral TikTok audio allegedly features Mahamudu Bawumia, NPP presidential candidate, calling Ghanaians weak-minded and promising to deceive them into winning the upcoming election.

Verdict: False.

Explanation

The Ghana Fact-checking Coalition compared the viral TikTok audio to five of Mr Bawumia’s past YouTube speeches and it revealed significant discrepancies. The audio features unnatural pitch variations and a polished accent that diverges from his typical speaking style, suggesting manipulation. The Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector tool also rated the audio as 80 per cent likely to be a deepfake. Experts from the Ghana Fact-checking Coalition concluded that the audio likely stems from voice-cloning technology, such as Resemble AI, which can generate synthetic speech from text scripts.

As Africa continues to navigate the complexities of democratic governance, the integrity of information during elections has emerged as a critical concern.

At the 2024 Media and Development Conference, organised by The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in Abuja, Nigeria, experts and stakeholders gathered to address the pressing challenges of managing election-related information in the digital age.

Speaking on the topic, “Safeguarding information integrity during elections in Africa,” Dr Imurana Mohammed, Director of Programmes at the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), emphasised the pivotal role of journalism ethics in safeguarding electoral integrity.

Describing 2024 as the year of democracy, with more than half of the global population participating in one kind of election or another, DrImurana said Ghana will end the year with a crucial election that will consolidate the country’s democracy.

However, the drive for consolidation is at risk due to the activities of bad actors who churn out misinformation daily that potentially erodes integrity in the election process.

The fight against election disinformation is a balancing act between protecting free speech rights and holding citizens accountable for their freedom of expression. Dr Imurana Mohammed said a robust legal framework exists in Ghana to protect information rights, including the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of information and the Right to Information Act. He also cited the Cyber Security Act, which aims to combat the threats posed by the digital landscape. 

However, as Mr Mohammed points out, the effectiveness of these laws hinges on citizens’ behaviour in upholding these rights and the diligence and professionalism of the institutions responsible for enforcing them. 

He said the rapid rise of social media has created an environment where misinformation can spread quickly and widely, complicating the task of monitoring and accountability.

“Things are so fluid that you could hardly track and punish,” Mr Mohammed lamented, highlighting the challenges that arise when false narratives gain traction in the digital space. This fluidity underscores the urgent need for journalists to act as the vanguards of truth and integrity in electoral processes.

Mr Mohammed advocates for a recommitment to professional ethics and standards within journalism. He asserts that journalists must prioritise accuracy and accountability, especially in an era where sensationalism can easily overshadow factual reporting. 

“We should uphold seriously professional ethics and standards,” he urged, recognising that the media holds significant power in shaping public perception and influencing electoral outcomes.

Dr Imurana Mohammed noted that the stakes are high, and the consequences of misinformation can be dire. As the continent prepares for upcoming elections, the role of journalists becomes even more critical. 

“They are not merely observers but active participants in the democratic process. By adhering to ethical standards and fact-checking rigorously, journalists can help to foster an informed electorate and protect the democratic ideals that underpin electoral systems,” he stated.

Other key speakers on the panel were Hamadou Tidiane Sy, Founder and Director, E-jicom, Samuel Folorunsho, Information Technology Manager, YIAGA Africa, Rachelle Faust, Programme Officer, Democracy and Technology, National Democratic Institute (NDI), Barrister Festus Okoye, former National Commissioner and Chairperson, Information and Voter Education Committee (INEC).

The session was moderated by Ajibola Amzat, Africa Editor, Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism.

The call to action is clear: to safeguard the integrity of information during elections, journalists must commit to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, ensuring that the truth prevails in the face of misinformation.

The panel discussion also highlighted the importance of legal frameworks and the role of long-term observation in improving electoral reporting.

Barrister Festus Okoye, former National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee INEC, shared that because those on social media break news so fast, the mainstream media now rush to break news without verifying things first.

Also, on his part, Samuel Folorunsho of Yiaga Africa said,

“We’re now slowly starting to conduct elections just for conducting elections sake.”

The Media and Development Conference 2024 presents a vital opportunity for stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions on enhancing information integrity during elections. As participants gather in Abuja from Nov. 25 to 26, the insights shared by the seasoned panels will serve as a guiding light for journalists across Africa. 

Claim: Facebook user Betwi has attracted over 100,000 views after he posted a video of a red Cybertruck on his page, claiming it belonged to popular Ghanaian businessman Osei Kwame Despite.

Verdict: False! DUBAWA’s investigation has confirmed that Osei Kwame Despite’s Cybertruck has not been customised to red, as the viral Facebook video suggests. DUBAWA’s video analysis using the Invid tool and a Google Reverse Image Search revealed that the Cybertruck was customised by the Los Angeles-based company Forgiato in the United States.

Full Text

A Facebook page, Ghana Spotlight, with the handle BETWI, posted a video reel to its over 97,000 followers showing what it alleges to be the customised Tesla Cybertruck owned by Ghanaian businessman Osei Kwame Despite.

The video, published on Oct. 30, 2024, has raked in over 100,000 views on the platform. It was captioned: “[Kwame] Despite [has] finally customised his Cybertruck… money dey Ghana oo her ”.

The post has since gone viral, garnering 57 comments and 1,500 likes, with some bookmarks indicating how far it has trended on the Facebook platform.

The Tesla Cybertruck, an electric pickup truck by Tesla, Inc., has been produced since 2023 with a unique low-polygon body design. The news of Despite acquiring a polished silver Cybertruck in Oct. 2024 already stirred significant excitement online, so the viral post about a customised red version intrigued many.

The initial colour of the vehicle making rounds on social media was polished silver, but the post made by BETWI claimed that despite this, it was rather a red Cybertruck with customised red and black 30-inch rims.

Shortly after the claim was made, followers who commented on the page could not tell if the information was accurate. 

A Facebook user, Happy Solo who chanced on the red Cybertruck post, first wrote, “Only in Ghana u can just change car colour without questioning or right procedure.”

Another user, Emmanuel Debrah Appau, who replied to Happy Solo’s comment, wrote:

“Happy Solo! Some of you are “too knowing” dodo. Even in the USA, it’s not every state you’ll have to notify the DMV before you can change your car color. Dabiaa only in Ghana. Ghana is an independent state; it has every right to have its own rules. If you don’t need to inform the police before changing colour, aa wei ɛyɛ asɛm bɛn?

The lack of clarity prompted DUBAWA to investigate BETWI’s claim to determine whether Despite had customised his car to colour red.

Verification

DUBAWA used the Invid verification tool, which showed thumbnails of the red Cybertruck, which is not from Ghana but in the USA. It was being customised by Forgiato, a custom wheel manufacturer based in Los Angeles, California.

The video circulated by BETWI was posted on YouTube three months ago by an account named Built By Bag and has since garnered over 45,000 views as of Nov. 7, 2024.

Again, DUBAWA’s Google Reverse Image Search showed a recent video of Osei Kwame Despite stepping out of his polished silver Cybertruck during an event in Ghana. He walked towards the camera and acknowledged a young man filming him as he walked towards his destination. The colour of the Cybertruck remained the same as it was when it was shipped into the country.

Meanwhile, on Nov. 6, 2024, some Ghanaians were spotted, in a video shared by Sika Official, a blogger, taking photos of the silver Cybertruck parked about 150 metres away from UTV, a media house owned by Osei Kwame Despite. The colour of the Cybertruck remained polished silver, and the car’s owner was Osei Kwame Despite, as reported by Ghanaian media outlet Yen.com.gh.

On Nov. 9, 2024, Dr Osei Kwame Despite was spotted driving his Cybertruck again at the final funeral rites of the late George Kofi Adjei, NPP Nhyiaeso Constituency Chairman, who passed away at the UGMC. The funeral took place at Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The colour remained unchanged.

Many videos of Osei Kwame Despite’s Cybertruck in Ghana can be seen here, here, and here, with none painted red.

Conclusion

The claim that Ghanaian businessman Osei Kwame Despite customised his polished silver Tesla Cybertruck to red, as shown in a viral Facebook video, is false.

MFWA, DUBAWA and Ghana Fact establish Ghana Fact-checking Coalition ahead of December elections

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), DUBAWA, FactSpace West Africa and other civil society organisations working on information hygiene, integrity and resilience in Ghana have formed the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition.

The Coalition has been convened ahead of Ghana’s 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections to mount a joint, collaborative and coordinated effort to mitigate the menacing threat misinformation and disinformation pose to the country’s peace, stability and democratic consolidation. 

The 2024 Global Risk Report identified misinformation and disinformation as the key critical risks anticipated to unfold in numerous countries across the world over the next two years. The report emphasised that the spread of misinformation and disinformation, especially during elections, could significantly disrupt the genuine and perceived legitimacy of newly elected governments, potentially leading to political turmoil, violence, terrorism, and a gradual deterioration of democratic procedures in the long run.

Activities and processes around the 2024 general elections in Ghana have so far generated enormous false and polarising narratives that can influence the peaceful outcomes of the polls.

The Coalition is, therefore, harnessing the capacities, strength and resources of the members while leveraging their credibility to produce timely, relevant and well-researched fact-check reports during the periods of the 2024 elections.

The Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition primarily comprises Ghana’s three main fact-checking organisations that are signatories with the International Fact-checking Network: Fact-Check Ghana (Media Foundation for West Africa), DUBAWA GHANA (Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development) and Ghana Fact (FactSpace West Africa). The Coalition is also working with many prominent civil society organisations including Africa Check, Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Penplusbyte, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and Digital Africa Research Lab.

From December 4-11, 2024, the Ghana Fact-checking Coalition will run Media Situation Rooms in Accra and Tamale dedicated to spotting and debunking misinformation disinformation and other harmful narratives related to the elections that may emerge on both online and offline platforms across the country.

The Coalition is also working with about 50 journalists and over 100 media houses across the country who broadcast or publish in about 45 Ghanaian languages. These journalists and media houses will serve as partners who will republish reports produced by the Media Situation Room and as well verify information about the election activities in their regions and communities.

“We are excited to kick off this coalition after many months of discussions. This is the best time for us to come together and collaborate to push back against mis/disinformation and polarising narratives that portend danger for Ghana’s democracy. We are hoping our collective work can contribute to a peaceful and credible election,” said Kwaku Krobea Asante, Lead Fact-checker and Senior Programme Officer at the MFWA.

“Creating a united front among fact-checkers, the media and civil society groups like this is one of the best ways to counter the threats from disinformation purveyors and people with malign interests who want to use information to disrupt the credibility of Ghana’s election and democracy. We are happy this has come off,” said Rabiu Alhassan, Director of FactSpace West Africa.

“Building from our expertise and insights gained from participating in and observing successful coalitions across West Africa, we are very delighted that we have been able to come together to form this coalition. Our collective goal is to make a meaningful impact on the elections, promoting a peaceful and credible process that fosters a more inclusive democratic process,” said Roselena Ahiable, Programme Manager of DUBAWA West Africa.

The Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition has been convened with funding support from the US Embassy in Ghana and Google News Initiative. UK-based Full Fact has also provided access to its Full Fact AI platform to assist members of the Coalition to monitor and counter disinformation. 

END.