Ghana

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. 

Claim: A social media user, @marcusadampah, shared a video showing men in two Metro Mass buses he alleged are “macho men” the NPP brought in from Burkina Faso. (Source: X (Formerly Twitter) @marcusadampah   (archived))

Verdict: Misleading 

Verification

Our checks at the Metro Mass Transit Company showed that the two buses moved from Accra to Sefwi Asawinso in the Western North Region, not from Burkina Faso, as alleged. Reacting to the claim, the Police say their preliminary investigation revealed the men were recruited from different parts of Accra to “provide security at polling stations within some constituencies” in the region.  The Member of Parliament from Joaboso, Mintah Akandoh, who spoke to the Coalition, repeated the claim that the men were from Burkina Faso but did not give any further evidence of how he came by that information. 

Claim: An X user, @marcusadampah, alleges that the  New Patriotic Party ( NPP) has been caught with ballot papers and voter’s register as part of a plot to rig the December 7, 2024, election.

Verdict: False

Explanation

There is no evidence that the booklets in the vehicle seen in the video are ballot papers. However, an analysis of the footage showed printed copies of the voters’ register in the vehicle. Conventionally, the EC always makes the register available to the parties ahead of elections. The narration accompanying the footage mentioned “voter’s register” and not ballot papers. Also, no credible media outlet has reported the alleged claim. The precedent in Ghana is that Electoral officials, political party representatives, and police officers are responsible for transporting ballot papers to the various polling centers.

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.

Claim: 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.

Claim: 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

With a mission to institute a culture of truth and verification in public discourse and journalism, DUBAWA is excited to announce a partnership with TikTok,  a leading social media platform with millions of Ghanaian users, to combat misinformation and disinformation surrounding Ghana’s December 7 general elections. This innovative collaboration leverages TikTok’s expansive platform and DUBAWA’s media and information literacy expertise to empower Ghanaians with the needed knowledge and tools to discern credible information in the digital space.

With a strong track record in promoting media literacy and fact-checking across the country, DUBAWA, through the Ghana Election Hub and Media Literacy Campaign, underscores its commitment to empowering communities with knowledge and tools to combat the spread of false information during critical national events.

TikTok has also welcomed and is ready to champion measures against misinformation. These include partnerships with fact-checking organisations and in-app reporting options for election-related falsehoods. By working with trusted partners like DUBAWA Ghana, TikTok strengthens its efforts to create a safer digital environment for civic engagement in Ghana and beyond.

Project details

TikTok has launched an in-app Election Centre, a dedicated hub available in English, where users gain access to information from reliable election information sources. The rationale is to direct people to trusted information and invest in Media Literacy.

Additionally, the project will help the TikTok community separate fact from fiction by investing in media literacy campaigns. “Ahead of the Ghana elections, we launched media literacy resources in collaboration with DUBAWA, which include educational videos and fact-checking skills. Local creators have contributed videos in English and Twi, ensuring accessibility and engagement across our community. These videos seek to equip the TikTok community with properly identifying potential misinformation online, encouraging them to “stop. think.” before sharing,” Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Government Relations & Public Policy, Sub-Saharan Africa.

Akintunde Babatunde, Director of Programmes, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (DUBAWA) said,

“Over the years, DUBAWA has tackled election-related disinformation on social media in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Senegal. We are excited to partner with TikTok on the launch of the Ghana election hub & media literacy campaign.

TikTok is a key platform for advancing fact-checking and media literacy campaigns during the election. We are excited about this opportunity to collaborate with TikTok on the Ghana Election Hub and Media Literacy Campaign. This partnership helps ensure that voters have access to reliable information, fostering a more informed and engaged electorate. Together, we are making a transformative impact on Ghana’s information ecosystem and contributing to the strengthening of democracy.”

This initiative will train top Ghanaian TikTok influencers and Creators on media and information literacy concepts, including understanding information disorder and identifying misinformation patterns. These influencers will collaborate with DUBAWA to create engaging, educational content for TikTok, addressing the unique challenges posed by misinformation during the election period.

This partnership is a significant step toward enhancing media information literacy among Ghanaian voters and ensuring a more informed electorate as the nation heads to the polls.

About DUBAWA:

DUBAWA was launched in 2018 as a distinct unit within the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), a premier African media think tank committed to strengthening journalism and fostering a free, independent media ecosystem through digital innovation, investigative reporting, combating disinformation, and championing media freedom to uphold democracy and promote inclusive development.

DUBAWA was established to reinforce the factual basis of journalism by integrating fact-checking protocols into the news reporting culture. In 2019, it expanded into Ghana and subsequently set up offices in other English-speaking West African countries, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia. By 2023, CJID had opened a Senegalese office to oversee DUBAWA and its Elections programmes. By 2024, DUBAWA further extended its reach with operations in Ivory Coast, employing full-time fact-checkers dedicated to combating disinformation and advancing media and information literacy.

DUBAWA is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network, a member of Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Programme, a partner in the NDI Integrity Network, and an active member of the WHO Infodemic Alliance.

Claim: An X user, Gen. Buhari, has posted a video claiming that John Mahama said, “The NDC government will plant grasses across the country so that cows can also get food to eat.”

Verdict: Misleading.Even though John Mahama mentioned planting for cows and sheep, he did not mention that it would be across the country. Rather, he specifically referred to Afram Plains. His statement has been taken out of context.

Full Text

An X user, Gen. Buhari, posted a short video of part of John Mahama’s interaction with the people of Afram Plains with the caption,

“The NDC govt will plant grasses across the country so that cows can also get food to eat– John Mahama Eiiii” The post, made on X on November 22, has received 52,700 views, over 600 likes, close to 100 reposts, and 100 quotes.

The video Gen. Buhari posted was taken from the TikTok page of Nyamekye Yawson (@marbledj), which has over 104,100 views. In the video, the flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress is heard saying  in the Twi language, “When the NDC comes, we will take good care of the place and grow plants that cows and sheep like to eat.”

Due to the post, users have chastised the former president for making such statements. A user commented on X,

“You’ve been in opposition for 8 years and want to gain power but see the nonsense you are saying. What a shame.”

These comments, fuelled by Gen Buhari’s caption that Mahama’s statement was about the whole of Ghana, show that people bought into the post. As a result, DUBAWA decided to verify if the statement was made by the NDC flag bearer.

Verification

Seeing the UTV logo and “live” watermarked on the video, DUBAWA surfed the official YouTube page of UTV and found that the video was from a live telecast of Prime Time News on UTV on Thursday, November 21st. The total news telecast was 59 minutes and 54 seconds. However, the part that showed John Mahama’s interaction with the people of Afram Plains as part of his tour started at 10 minutes and 13 seconds of the video.

After listening to the full clip, which ended at 11 minutes and 54 seconds, DUBAWA realised that the short clip posted on X had been taken out of context. Additionally, a closer look at the video published by the claimant showed that some parts of the clip were cut out and joined with others to make the statement sound like it was made about the whole of Ghana.

In the full clip, John Mahama said,

“At the time that Rawlings was there, we came to create a place for those who rear cows and animals to take their animals for feeding. Since then, the government has not kept its eye on the place. When the NDC comes, we will take care of the place and refurbish it and plant the kinds of plants that cows and sheep like to eat.” 

DUBAWA realised that he made this statement after promising to set up a cattle ranch where grasses would be grown to feed the cattle to avoid quarrels between the herdsmen and farmers.

DUBAWA also found the original clip which was streamed on the Facebook page of Woezor TV. The exact statement can be found from 40 minutes 30 seconds onwards. DUBAWA’s assessment of the entire video revealed that Mr Mahama’s pledge was solely focused on the people of Afram Plains and not the whole of Ghana. His statement has been taken out of context.

Conclusion

The claim that John Mahama said that the NDC government would plant grasses across the country so that cows can also get food to eat is false. DUBAWA’s checks show that the video was taken out of context.

This report was produced under the DUBAWA “Combating Election Misinformation and Disinformation in Ghana’s 2024 Elections” Project aimed at promoting a culture of truth and verification ahead of the 2024 General Elections with support from the Federal Republic of Germany in Ghana.

Ghana will go to the polls on December 7, 2024, seeking to consolidate a democracy that has been the envy of many African countries. One of the candidates seeking the people’s mandate is John Dramani Mahama, leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress.

He is no stranger to Ghana’s politics. By far the most experienced of the 12 candidates in the December elections, John Mahama seeks to return to a position he vacated eight years ago after losing power to the New Patriotic Party’s Nana Akufo-Addo.

In a no-contest election on Oct. 13, 2023, the National Democratic Congress voted for John Mahama to be re-elected as the party’s flagbearer in this year’s (2024) elections. He polled over 98% of the votes cast by the delegates.

Described by his supporters as the ‘nation builder,’ John Mahama remains the candidate who stands between the NPP and an ambition to break the eight. He remains poised to scuttle that ambition with a clarion call to the people of Ghana to help reset an economy he believes has been thrown into shambles by the NPP.

With him is a promise of a 24-hour economic policy that would stimulate growth and help propel the country’s economy back on track.

Touted as a communicator par excellence, ex-president John Mahama is responsible for convincing the citizens to return to the NDC and him, whom they rejected in 2016 and 2020. But the grass is greener, and the soil softer in 2024. No party has broken the eight. And the party that seeks to do so always has a mountain of corruption allegations to deal with, strangling economic challenges to contend with as happened to Jerry John Rawlings’ NDC government in 2000, Kufuor’s NPP government in 2008, Atta Mills’ and John Mahama’s NDC government in 2016 and now to Akufo-Addo’s NPP government in 2024.

Mahama’s Credentials

John Mahama is perhaps the country’s most decorated political officeholder. He started his primary education at Achimota Basic School and then continued at Ghana Secondary School in Tamale.

Mahama obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Ghana in 1981. He started teaching at his old school, Ghana Secondary School.

He also obtained a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Ghana. He did not stop there; in 1988, he returned to the Institute of Social Science in Moscow, Russia, where he earned a degree in Social Psychology.

After completing his studies, Mr Mahama came to Ghana to serve his country. He joined the Japanese Embassy in 1995. There, he was in charge of research affairs and culture. He served as a foreign affairs officer at Plan International in Ghana.

Mr John Mahama was born into politics. His father, Mr Emmanuel Adama Mahama, was a legislator for the Gonja West constituency. His father worked as the first district governor under Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

The former legislator began his political career in Bole Bamboi, where he was a parliamentary candidate in elections. He was the Member of Parliament for the Bole Bamboi community from 1996 to 2004.

In 1997, John Mahama was Deputy Minister of State for National Communications in President John Rawlings’s administration. He became the Director General of the Institute of National Communications from 1998 to 2001.

From 2001 to 2005, Mahama was the communications spokesperson for the minority in parliament and then became the foreign affairs spokesperson from  2005 to 2008.

John Mahama was named running mate to former President John Evans Atta Mills, the flag bearer in the 2008 elections, and became vice president on Jan 7, 2009.

When Atta Mills died on July 24, 2012, he was sworn in as President of Ghana until re-elected in the Dec. 7, 2012 elections. In the 2016 elections, Mahama lost his position as president after a mammoth defeat to President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Former President Mahama has written many books, including My First Coup D’Etat: Memories From the Lost Decades of Africa,’ which he released in 2022.

Experience

The NDC leader comes to the table with a towering level of experience, having occupied the highest position in the country for at least four years. A man with a calm demeanour, ex-president John Mahama’s resolve to an issue-based politics is never in doubt. In his first tenure, Mahama became synonymous with development projects, including health facilities, roads, and education. For the many who demand a return to John Mahama, questions are asked about his ability to keep the lights on during his tenure and to manage the economy in a way that would not engender another to return to the IMF.

Thus far, the affable communicator has shared his commitment to reset and rebuild the country and hold the former government officers accountable for the many allegations of corruption.

What dominates Ghana’s political discourse is who will win the election on December 7, 2024.