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MEDIA LITERACY AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS

In 2024, Savana Signatures launched the Media Literacy and Youth Empowerment for Peaceful Elections project to promote peace, security, and accountability during Ghana’s general elections. The project responded to the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation, which posed serious risks to electoral integrity, national unity, and public safety, especially ahead of the December 7, 2024 elections.

Political actors and individuals increasingly spread false information, often manipulating content to mislead the public. The rise of social media and artificial intelligence has made this worse, with tools like deepfake videos fueling division and potential election-related violence.

 

Target Audience

The project focused on youth influencers aged 18 to 35, both online and offline, from community youth groups in Northern Ghana. This included the Northern Region, North East Region, Upper East Region, and Savannah Region. These areas face challenges such as low literacy, poor infrastructure, and economic hardship, making them especially vulnerable to false information.

The project worked to build resilience among young people and create a more informed, inclusive environment free from misinformation and disinformation.

 

Project Goals and Activities

Savana Signatures implemented the project using a strategy focused on training, capacity building, and community engagement. The key objectives were to:

  • Train 200 youth influencers to detect, understand, and counter misinformation.
  • Raise awareness about the importance of peaceful, violence-free elections.
  • Equip youth influencers to lead peace campaigns and promote social cohesion in their communities.

 

Notable Achievements

  • Partnered with the School of Media Studies to develop a practical manual on how to counter misinformation, giving participants hands-on tools and strategies.
  • Empowered youth influencers to become active promoters of peace and responsible communication, both online and in their communities.

 

This project helped strengthen youth leadership and built a foundation for peaceful elections by reducing the impact of false information in Northern Ghana.