Media and Information Literacy and Civic Education – A Collective Effort for the Public Good

 Media and Information Literacy and Civic Education – A Collective Effort for the Public Good

In an era where information flows unrestrained across digital platforms, discerning fact from fiction has become a critical skill. Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is indispensable in fostering an informed citizenry capable of engaging responsibly with the information ecosystems. When coupled with Civic Education, MIL becomes a powerful tool for empowering communities, ensuring democratic participation, and promoting social cohesion. Together, these initiatives lay the groundwork for a public that is both informed and engaged, capable of safeguarding the integrity of democratic processes and contributing to the public good.

Media and Information Literacy equips individuals with the ability to critically analyze media content, identify misinformation and disinformation, and make informed decisions based on credible sources. In the context of civic education, MIL fosters an environment where citizens understand their rights, responsibilities, and the broader implications of their participation in democratic processes. The integration of MIL into civic education ensures that individuals are not only informed voters but also active participants in societal development.

One exemplary initiative demonstrating the synergy between MIL and civic education is the “MIL in Elections Campaign,” spearheaded by Penplusbytes in collaboration with DW Akademie and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in Ghana. This campaign focused on disseminating accurate information during elections to combat the pervasive issue of disinformation that threatens democratic integrity. By training NCCE officers across the country, the campaign empowered these civic educators to cascade critical MIL principles to their communities, ensuring a ripple effect that benefits the broader population.

Disinformation and misinformation are not new phenomena, but their impact has been amplified by the rapid proliferation of social media and digital technologies. During election periods, the stakes are even higher, as false narratives can influence voter behavior, undermine trust in electoral processes, and incite unrest. In Ghana, the December 2024 general election demonstrated the importance of addressing these challenges proactively.

Through initiatives like the MIL in Elections Campaign, stakeholders took significant steps to mitigate the risks posed by disinformation. By equipping Civic Education officers with the skills and tools to identify and counter false narratives, the campaign ensured that accurate information reached the electorate. These officers played a pivotal role in fostering critical media consumption, enabling individuals to scrutinize the information they encountered and make informed decisions at the polls.

The success of MIL initiatives lies in their ability to reach diverse audiences across regions. This campaign underscored the importance of regional inclusivity, with training sessions conducted in Accra, Ho, Koforidua, and Kumasi. These sessions trained 150 Civic Education officers, who, in turn, educated thousands within their communities. For instance, the training in Ho, Volta Region, saw 30 officers equipped with the knowledge to combat disinformation, a testament to the campaign’s grassroots impact.

The regional approach ensured that the campaign’s benefits were equitably distributed, addressing the unique challenges faced by different communities. Whether in urban centers or peri-urban areas, such as Ashalaja in Accra, the cascading of MIL education fostered a nationwide culture of informed engagement, strengthening the democratic fabric of the nation.

Addressing the challenges posed by disinformation requires a collective effort from multiple stakeholders. Penplusbytes, DW Akademie, and the NCCE exemplify this collaborative approach, pooling resources and expertise to achieve a common goal. The NCCE’s extensive network of regional and district offices provided a robust platform for disseminating MIL education, while Penplusbytes’ technical expertise ensured the effectiveness of training programs.

This partnership underscored the value of aligning institutional objectives with societal needs. For instance, NCCE’s mandate to promote and sustain Ghana’s democracy and create civic awareness aligned seamlessly with Penplusbytes’ commitment to enhancing digital and media literacy. Such synergies ensured that initiatives like the MIL in Elections Campaign were both impactful and sustainable, addressing immediate challenges while laying the groundwork for long-term societal benefits.

The integration of Media and Information Literacy into civic education has far-reaching implications for democracy and development. By enabling individuals to critically engage with media, MIL fosters a well-informed electorate capable of holding institutions accountable. This, in turn, strengthens democratic processes, ensuring that governance is reflective of the will of the people.

Moreover, MIL contributes to social cohesion by countering divisive narratives that thrive on misinformation. In a multicultural society like Ghana, where diversity is both a strength and a potential fault line, the ability to discern truth from falsehood is vital for maintaining harmony. By promoting critical thinking and informed decision-making, MIL empowers individuals to navigate complex societal issues with clarity and confidence.

The December 2024 general elections underscored the importance of Media and Information Literacy and Civic Education in fostering an informed electorate. Initiatives like the MIL in Elections Campaign exemplify the collective effort required to combat disinformation, promote informed participation, and safeguard democratic integrity. By equipping civic educators with the tools and skills to disseminate accurate information, these initiatives ensured that the public was well-prepared to navigate the complexities of the information age.

Ultimately, the success of MIL and civic education efforts depends on sustained collaboration among stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society organizations, and the media. Together, they can create a society where truth prevails, democracy thrives, and the public good is prioritized.

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Artificial Intelligence, Democracy and Elections

 

Artificial Intelligence, Democracy and Elections

Source: Google

Introduction

The world is constantly evolving amid the rapid rise in digital revolution, and in recent times, Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the globe has transformed every aspect of our lives. Undoubtedly, the incorporation of AI into various sectors is reforming and reshaping the way we perceive and do things. From financial transactions to communication methods, the impact of AI is profoundly significant, and its implications for democracy and elections, particularly in transitional democracies cannot be underestimated.

From a democratic point of view, AI has the potential to enhance the democratic process of countries by facilitating citizen-government interaction and enabling political actors  to better understand constituents' concerns. However, the evolution of AI also introduces risks, particularly in transitional democracies where misinformation and disinformation can incite electoral violence. In countries like Ghana and other parts of Africa, where democracy is still evolving, the proliferation of AI presents both opportunities and challenges.

In 2024, democracy faces a critical test as over 4.2 billion people across more than 60 countries, including the US, India, Mexico, Ghana, etc. go to the polls. In this current era of artificial intelligence (AI) however, the democratic process faces challenges as misinformation and disinformation threaten the integrity of elections.

This publication seeks to examine the relationship between AI, democracy, and elections. By examining the potential benefits and pitfalls of integrating AI into our democratic process, the article seeks to shed light on the opportunities for enhancing democratic governance.

How Will AI Enhance the Democratic Process?

While the concerns about the effect of AI on democracy, particularly elections, are not new; recent developments in the United States, such as the Executive Order by President Joe Biden and the recent trip by Vice President Kamala Harris to the United Kingdom to attend the AI Safety Summit have revived discussions on the matter.

A recent study by UNESCO revealed that AI has the potential to improve democratic values, institutions and processes, including elections in various ways.

Firstly, election management bodies across the globe can leverage AI to improve their oversight of the electoral process. For instance, AI can be used to automate election administration processes, ensuring they are more secure, accurate, and reliable. AI, when implemented and monitored carefully and responsibly, has the potential to detect and rectify irregularities in voters’ registers and voting machines, ultimately exposing instances of fraud. Also, AI-driven tabulators can scan ballot papers at a faster rate than election officers, thereby reducing the time required to declare election results and report any anomalies to the appropriate authorities for redress. This accelerated process could help reduce allegations of fraud in the aftermath of elections.

Secondly, AI serves as a powerful tool for political engagement, allowing for various ways to educate citizens about democratic principles and politicians' positions on important national issues. Specially designed AI tools can update citizens on important policies they are interested in, empowering them to express opinions effectively to governments and politicians.

Moreover, the rapid evolution of AI is fundamentally changing the landscape of political campaigns. Soon, politicians will have the capability to promptly respond to campaign developments and effectively counter any misinformation. The growing utilization of sentiment analysis on social media enables politicians to gain insights into the issues that are sensitive to citizens. Consequently, AI can be employed to tailor campaign messages that align with the interests of distinct groups of people. This strategic approach allows politicians to craft specific campaign messages tailored to the needs of individual voters.

Finally, AI holds significant potential in policymaking by simplifying complex issues and analysing large datasets, thereby enabling policymakers to identify and understand societal challenges more effectively. Furthermore, AI can empower citizens to express their views, mobilize like-minded individuals, and influence policymaking beyond the confines of elections, thus shaping policymaking.

In the Ghanaian context, the country's digital infrastructure is not fully developed to support advanced AI tools for elections. However, the Electoral Commission (EC) has made significant strides by implementing the Biometric Verification System since 2012, marking a foundational step towards modernizing the electoral process.

The issues surrounding voter registration accuracy, including instances of duplicate registrations and concerns about the integrity of voter rolls, have been central to election petitions in 2012 and 2020. These challenges underscore the critical need for enhanced mechanisms to ensure the credibility and transparency of electoral processes in Ghana.

Moving forward, the Electoral Commission of Ghana can leverage AI-driven systems to address these longstanding issues. By integrating biometric voter registration systems supported by AI algorithms, the Commission can bolster the accuracy of voter rolls, detect potential irregularities, and mitigate instances of electoral fraud. This proactive approach not only strengthens the integrity of the electoral process but also enhances public trust and confidence in Ghana's democratic institutions.

 

Challenges of AI on Democracy

While AI has the potential to improve democratic processes, it also presents significant challenges, particularly in developing countries. A UNESCO study shows that by 2026, 90% of online content may be AI-generated. This presents a significant challenge to democracy particularly in elections as AI, can be used to concoct narratives which are not in the public interest.

AI can exacerbate the problem of misinformation and disinformation during election periods by providing countries and groups with inexpensive and readily accessible tools to disseminate falsehoods. This proliferation of misinformation and disinformation can deepen societal divisions and instigate chaos within nations. Fake accounts, manipulated videos, and other AI-generated content have already disrupted the flow of information in numerous countries prior to elections. AI's capability to swiftly generate fake news websites further compounds the confusion. This misinformation and disinformation, highlighted as a top risk in the Global Risks Report 2024, have the potential to destabilize democracies, leading to scepticism about the legitimacy of election outcomes. As Ghanaians approach major elections in 2024, the increasing threat posed by AI highlights the need for vigilant measures to mitigate its adverse effects on democracy.

 

Conditions Necessary for AI to Thrive in Ghana

In exploring the conditions that could make AI thrive in the context of democracy and elections in Ghana,  it is important to consider these factors:

Firstly, there is the need for a robust regulatory framework to govern the implementation and use of AI in the electoral process. This framework should address concerns such as data privacy, data protection, data sharing and accountability to ensure that AI systems are deployed ethically and responsibly.

Secondly, there must be adequate infrastructure and technical capacity to support the integration of AI technologies into the electoral process. This includes investments in data infrastructure, cybersecurity measures, and training programs for election officials, political parties and other stakeholders to effectively utilize AI tools.

Furthermore, promoting transparency and public trust in AI systems is crucial. Citizens need to have confidence that AI technologies are being used to improve the integrity and fairness of the electoral process rather than manipulate outcomes. This requires public education campaigns, open dialogue, and mechanisms for independent oversight and the evaluation of AI systems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the intersection of AI and democracy presents significant opportunities but also poses challenges, particularly in transitional democracies. Governments, policymakers, and civil society organizations (CSOs) should take proactive measures, such as the Biden administration's AI Executive Order and bipartisan regulatory efforts.

Penplusbytes, a leader in both technology and governance, stands ready to play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. As AI continues to advance, its impact on governance and elections will grow, necessitating ongoing collaboration to harness its potential for positive democratic outcomes. Ahead of the 2024 elections in Ghana and other countries across the world, transparent strategies and vigilant oversight are vital to ensure AI benefits democracy and ensure free and fair elections.

Penplusbytes’ Climate Crisis Journalism Project to Train Journalists on Climate Change Reporting

 Penplusbytes’ Climate Crisis Journalism Project to Train Journalists on Climate Change Reporting

The African continent faces major environmental challenges linked to climate change and Ghana is not left out as can be seen in changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, as well as more frequent and severe weather events such as chronic flooding and harsh harmattan in some parts of the country with its adverse impact on health and the economy.

Relatively little space is allocated to climate change issues in the media. In a 2010 study by the Reuters Institute on media coverage of climate change in Africa , findings showed that about 60 per cent of media persons interviewed identified a lack of training and time pressures as major reasons why climate change has rarely generated coverage commensurate to its significance for the continent’s future prosperity.

Although some steps have been taken to address the aforementioned issues, it is worth noting that the dearth of awareness on the part of citizens about the causes and impacts of climate change has been very low. For many news media and editors, environment is a non-topic although media can help raise awareness of the impact of climate change on our daily lives.

According to recommendations from the Reuters Institute study, the media can do a lot more in shaping public understanding of climate change and public policies. The poor perception of the subject by both editors and journalists can be reshaped through training and workshops.

In light of this, Penplusbytes with support from DW Akademie under its Climate Crisis Journalism Project, will from the 25th to the 27th of January 2022, gather selected Ghanaian journalists and build their capacity in the subject matter to enable them conduct in-depth and investigative reporting on climate-related issues.

The three-day training session will be delivered by climate change experts and seasoned journalists in the environment and climate fields who will be engaged as resource persons to expose and orient the selected journalists to the intricacies of climate change, international best practices, trust building, and addressing disinformation, among other topic areas.

According to the Executive Director of Penplusbytes, Jerry Sam, "It is imperative to fight the growing climate crisis with a multi-pronged approach and this training will seek to equip the selected journalists with the requisite knowledge and skills to inform, educate and shape public discourse on the climate crisis in a responsible manner, enabling the people to act and shape the clean, green and sustainable climate for the future and its generations”.

To assess and sustain in the short term the impact of the trainings received, Programme Manager for Penplusbytes, Precious Ankomah says, journalists will be motivated through a competitive micro grant system for in-depth stories generation around climate change in Ghana.

The trained journalists will also be mentored by seasoned experts and will go through some refresher courses that will be delivered in a hybrid format (both virtual and face-to-face engagements).

 

About Penplusbytes

Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization driving change through innovations in the following key areas: using new digital technologies to enable good governance and accountability, new media and innovations, climate and well-being, and enhancing oversight for effective utilisation of mining, oil and gas revenue and resources.

The AI Software taking the internet by a storm – ChatGPT

 

ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a chatbot launched by OpenAI, a research laboratory in California in November 2022. It is built on top of OpenAI's GPT-3 family of large language models, and is fine-tuned with both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques.

ChatGPT was launched as a prototype on November 30, 2022, and quickly garnered attention for its detailed responses and articulate answers across many domains of knowledge. Following the release of ChatGPT, OpenAI was reportedly valued at 29 billion USD.

Since its launch, ChatGPT has become an extraordinary hit. Essentially a more elaborate chatbot, the AI program can churn out answers to the biggest and smallest questions in life, and draw up college essays, fictional stories, emails, poems and even job application letters. It does this by drawing on what it has gleaned from a staggering amount of text on the internet, with careful guidance from human experts. Ask ChatGPT a question, as millions have in recent weeks, and it will do its best to respond – unless it knows it cannot. The answers are confident and fluently written, even if they are sometimes stunningly wrong.

The AI is built on a large language model or LLM, which is fed hundreds of billions of words in the form of books, conversations and web articles, from which it builds a model, based on statistical probability, of the words and sentences that tend to follow whatever text came before. It is a bit like predictive text on a mobile phone, but scaled up massively, allowing it to produce entire responses instead of single words.

It has a remarkable ability to interact in conversational dialogue form and provide responses that can appear surprisingly human. Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback (RLHF) is an additional layer of training that uses human feedback to help ChatGPT learn the ability to follow directions and generate responses that are satisfactory to humans.

As with every invention, ChatGPT comes with some limitations; it is specifically programmed not to provide toxic or harmful responses. So, it will avoid answering those kinds of questions. Another important limitation is that the quality of the output depends on the quality of the input. In other words, expert directions (prompts) generate better answers. Then also, ChatGPT has no handle on the truth, so even when answers are fluent and plausible, there is no guarantee they are correct.

OpenAI acknowledges these limitations and says “we plan to make regular model updates to improve in such areas. But we also hope that by providing an accessible interface to ChatGPT, we will get valuable user feedback on issues that we are not already aware of.”

You can try it on chat.openai.com

Cybersecurity service providers, professionals to be licensed

 

The Cyber Security Authority says it has commenced processes to start licensing cybersecurity providers, cybersecurity establishments and the accreditation of cybersecurity professionals.

This move according to the acting Director General-CSA, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, forms part of efforts to collaborate with government to enhance Ghana’s cyber resilience amid the increasing rate of cybercrimes worldwide.

Speaking at a public consultation on the licensing and accreditation framework, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, explained that the move is necessary to ensure cybersecurity service providers offer their services in accordance with approved standards and procedures in line with industry best practices.

He went on to say that the engagement is meant to solicit inputs from industry players before the framework is submitted to the o CSA board for approval, which is expected to happen before end of the year for full implementation in January 2023.

This, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako believes would build confidence in this emerging profession and create more opportunities for skills acquisition, training and development in this critical sector “for our use and to meet the critical skills-shortage in this sector globally”.

Presenting the draft framework during the public engagement that saw about 100 cybersecurity professionals in attendance, Functional Lead-Legal and Compliance at the CSA, Madam Jennifer Mensah, said despite digital transformation generating a lot of prosperity and wealth for the world economy, cybercrime has increased at a greater rate.

“The work of cybersecurity establishments, cybersecurity service providers and cybersecurity professionals has been very, very important in securing our digital critical infrastructure and digital services. However, there are some concerns that there may be certain cybersecurity service providers, cybersecurity establishments and professionals who may be less credible and less competent, adopting substandard processes in rendering services to the detriment of Ghana’s digital economy. Hence the need for licencing and accreditation to regulate the industry’s intrusive nature,” she stated.

“National security considerations are driving regulations in the sector, demanding that all these stakeholders are in good standing. Therefore, there is a need for government to regulate the sector through the Cyber Security Authority to ensure compliance,” she added

Meanwhile, a directive for the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructures (CIIs) was launched by the Authority on October 1, 2021 to assist CII owners in registering with the Authority and guide them to protect their critical systems.

And, according to Deputy Communications and Digitalisation Minister Ama Pomaa Boateng during her address at the National Cyber Security Awareness Month launched earlier this week, from January 2023 all Critical Information Infrastructure Owners, whether in the private sector or public institutions, will be required to undergo mandatory compliance checks and audits to ensure the protection of Ghana’s critical systems.

“This audit and compliance action will be in line with regulations aimed at reinforcing the resilience and response capacities of these institutions against cyber-threats and incidents, as well as to ensuring a resilient, secure economy. This will help protect our critical systems from rising malicious cyber activities in the global landscape. They are also important to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of controls/measures put in place to meet requirements of the law,” she said.

Designated CII owners who fail to comply with the regulatory measures to protect the country ‘s critical databases and systems will be sanctioned in accordance with the Cybersecurity Act, she added

The Cyber Security Authority says it has commenced processes to start licensing cybersecurity providers, cybersecurity establishments and the accreditation of cybersecurity professionals.

This move according to the acting Director General-CSA, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, forms part of efforts to collaborate with government to enhance Ghana’s cyber resilience amid the increasing rate of cybercrimes worldwide.

Speaking at a public consultation on the licensing and accreditation framework, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, explained that the move is necessary to ensure cybersecurity service providers offer their services in accordance with approved standards and procedures in line with industry best practices.

He went on to say that the engagement is meant to solicit inputs from industry players before the framework is submitted to the o CSA board for approval, which is expected to happen before end of the year for full implementation in January 2023.

This, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako believes would build confidence in this emerging profession and create more opportunities for skills acquisition, training and development in this critical sector “for our use and to meet the critical skills-shortage in this sector globally”.

Presenting the draft framework during the public engagement that saw about 100 cybersecurity professionals in attendance, Functional Lead-Legal and Compliance at the CSA, Madam Jennifer Mensah, said despite digital transformation generating a lot of prosperity and wealth for the world economy, cybercrime has increased at a greater rate.

“The work of cybersecurity establishments, cybersecurity service providers and cybersecurity professionals has been very, very important in securing our digital critical infrastructure and digital services. However, there are some concerns that there may be certain cybersecurity service providers, cybersecurity establishments and professionals who may be less credible and less competent, adopting substandard processes in rendering services to the detriment of Ghana’s digital economy. Hence the need for licencing and accreditation to regulate the industry’s intrusive nature,” she stated.

“National security considerations are driving regulations in the sector, demanding that all these stakeholders are in good standing. Therefore, there is a need for government to regulate the sector through the Cyber Security Authority to ensure compliance,” she added

Meanwhile, a directive for the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructures (CIIs) was launched by the Authority on October 1, 2021 to assist CII owners in registering with the Authority and guide them to protect their critical systems.

And, according to Deputy Communications and Digitalisation Minister Ama Pomaa Boateng during her address at the National Cyber Security Awareness Month launched earlier this week, from January 2023 all Critical Information Infrastructure Owners, whether in the private sector or public institutions, will be required to undergo mandatory compliance checks and audits to ensure the protection of Ghana’s critical systems.

“This audit and compliance action will be in line with regulations aimed at reinforcing the resilience and response capacities of these institutions against cyber-threats and incidents, as well as to ensuring a resilient, secure economy. This will help protect our critical systems from rising malicious cyber activities in the global landscape. They are also important to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of controls/measures put in place to meet requirements of the law,” she said.

Designated CII owners who fail to comply with the regulatory measures to protect the country ‘s critical databases and systems will be sanctioned in accordance with the Cybersecurity Act, she added.

431 cyber security incidents in third quarter of 2022

 

The acting Director General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr. Albert Antwi-Bosaiako says Ghana recorded 431 cybersecurity incidents out of a total of 9,769 contacts at the end of the third-quarter of 2022. 

Dr. Antwi-Boasiako made this statement at the launch of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) on Monday, 3 October 2022 in Accra, and further said the top-five most reported incidents include online fraud, unauthorized access to protected systems, online blackmail, online impersonation and publication of non-consensual intimate images.

“Most of these attacks are perpetrated through social media using social engineering and phishing techniques. Lack of awareness on cyber risks as well as inadequate cybersecurity control measures are the main vulnerabilities being exploited by perpetrators,” he stated.

He added that, of the total number, 5,389 of the attacks are classified as direct advisories, a situation Dr. Antwi-Boasiako explains: “It means that over 5,000 incidents which could have caused various degrees of loss to victims were prevented and various amounts of money saved”.

Touching on collaborations, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako acknowledged that cybercrimes and cybersecurity-related matters are borderless and thus local and international collaborations are paramount in tackling them.

He added that, heightening collaborations with various stakeholders will play a significant role in ensuring the CSA executes its mandate successfully.

And it is for this reason that the Authority is committed to working closely with the Joint Cybersecurity Committee (JCC), which was inaugurated in July this year in accordance with sections 13 and 14 of Act 1038 for the implementation of effective cybersecurity measures, he stated.

Touching on this year’s NCSAM on the theme ‘Regulating Cybersecurity: A Public-Private Sector Collaborative Approach’, he said the multifaceted nature of cybersecurity requires collaborative efforts to ensure security of the country’s cyberspace.

“The nature of cyberspace and associated technologies, including the internet, requires international collaboration for effective responses to cybersecurity incidents. Consequently, this year’s celebration is to highlight the need for such collaborations and encourage the needed partnerships as we implement Act 1038,” he stated.

He, therefore, implored stakeholders to honour their obligation to invest in cybersecurity, saying: “It is my expectation that organisations will dedicate a minimum of between 15 percent and 25 percent of their ICT budget to cybersecurity if we are to make any meaningful and sustainable progress in addressing our cybersecurity challenges”.

According to the World Economic Forum, cybercrime cost the world at least US$6trillion in 2021 and could lead to over US$10trillion in annual damages by 2025. Research by IBM also indicates that it takes 280 days to find and contain the average cyberattack, while the average attack costs US$3.86million.

On her part, the Deputy Communications and Digitalisation Minister, Ama Pomaa Boateng who represented sector minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, expressed the ministry’s commitment to full enforcement of the Cybersecurity Act.

The ministry, she further noted, is committed to NCSAM and urges the public-private sector institutions and Civil Society Organisations to participate fully in the activities this October by organising awareness programmes for their stakeholders and constituents.

Penplusbytes to host CSOs and government agencies on social protection in Ghana

 

Poor governance, weak institutions, systemic corruption, and inadequate budgetary allocation make access to health and education services in Ghana a critical problem especially for vulnerable groups. In a bid to build an informed citizenry who are equipped with the appropriate digital tools to demand better service delivery within the framework of political and social accountability, Penplusbytes, is organizing a one-day Social Accountability & Economic Justice Clearing Platform forum scheduled for 23^rd August 2022 at the AITI-Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence at Ridge, Accra. 

The forum forms part of the implementation of Penplusbytes’ 2-year “HERE (Health, Education, Resource Equity) and Now” Project, which seeks to equip ordinary citizens with usable information via the #ShortChanged mobile app mashed-up with social media to promote their purposeful participation in demanding accountability and responsiveness from decision makers for effective public service delivery. The project is being implemented in Ghana and Mali in partnership with ID-Sahel in Mali and funded by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

This forum is aimed at increasing the contribution of civil society in promoting accountability by state and public service providers through mandated representation and advocacy on health and education issues which are of great concern to citizens and has impact on their social lives.

The forum will provide the opportunity for social accountability actors to come out with common issues for a concerted advocacy on better service delivery in the selected social intervention policies by government. 

According to Mr. Jerry Sam, the Executive Director of Penplusbytes, “the stakeholder Clearing Platform on Social Accountability will discuss the existing social accountability approaches and their associated advantages and challenges as well as the role of ICT tools in facilitating social accountability.”

“Key outcomes of the meeting include sensitization of stakeholders on the level of implementation of the selected policies, finding solutions to challenges and gaps identified in the implementation of social protection policies in Ghana and garnering support in the drive to ensure there is value for money in the implementation of the various policies”, Mr. Sam added.

The event will bring together Ministries, Agencies, Departments, and other civil society organizations in the social accountability space.

 

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About Penplusbytes

Established in 2001, Penplusbytes is a leading organization in Africa working in 4 areas: governance and accountability, new media and innovations; the extractive sector as well as Climate Change and wellbeing. Our vision is to be the leading institution for promoting effective governance using technology in Africa which is anchored on our mission of promoting effective governance by deploying technology that enhances participation.

About ID Sahel

Birthed in the year 2000, has produced achievements with increasing returns and impact in the following areas: Democratic Governance, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, Rural Development and Integrated Management, and Vocational Training.

About OSIWA

The Open Society Initiative for West Africa is active in 10 countries in the region (Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone) and focuses on law, justice and human rights, and economic and political governance. The initiative pursues the development of open societies by supporting and building partnerships with local and regional groups that promote inclusive democratic governance, transparency and accountability, and active citizenship.

 

21 years of Catalysing Innovations across Networks and Communities

 

Let’s use a time machine and travel back to the year 2001. When we leave the machine, we enter a world in which smartphones do not yet exist. Windows XP has just been launched and a first iTunes Version is on the market. Journalists also still pretty much rely on notes, pencils, big camera equipment and libraries.

That is the environment when on 18^th of July, 2001 a group of young Ghanaians formed Penplusbytes. Initially, it was dubbed “International Institute of ICT Journalism”.

Nowadays, 21 years later, the approach is much broader. Our mission is to promote effective governance by deploying technology that enhances participation. One of the best examples for that is our newly built App “Shortchanged” (downloadable on Google Play and Apple Store). It seeks to create awareness about selected policies in the health and education sectors in Ghana and Mali and provide spaces for citizens to report on their experiences with each policy.

Simply, citizens get to know what their tax money is used for and can easily add their voices through online surveys and maybe shape the next policy with their experiences.

Let’s celebrate and look forward to our next innovative projects. We cannot be where we are now without our partners, clients and the ever-thriving team and management here at Penplusbytes. We say Ayekoo to us all!!

Penplusbytes has turned 21 and we are still counting.

Corruption in Ghana - People's Experiences & Views

 Corruption in Ghana - People's Experiences & Views

The next time you talk to a public officer, it is quite probable he/she got his/her job as a result of nepotism or bribery.

“The threat posed by corruption to our future is so obvious and frightening," Supreme Court Judge, Yoni Kulendi said on Thursday, July 20, 2022 during the release of the survey; “Corruption in Ghana – People’s Experiences and Views.”

To launch the report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Ghana (UNODC), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and other stakeholders invited media and interested personnel to the Best Western Airport Hotel in Accra.

Ghana officially adopted its National Anti-Corruption Action Plan in 2014. To contribute to its efficiency, the Ghana Statistical Service partnered with UNODC and questioned 15,000 respondents across the country on their experiences with bribery and corruption.

In the morning of the launch date, the Penplusbytes Team had packed its cameras and other equipment to livestream the event on social media and engage online audiences. Journalists from various news stations were also present and focused their cameras on Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Anim who delivered key findings from the survey. 

According to Prof. Anim, Ghana had lost more than GHC5 billion in bribes; the survey findings indicated.

Corruption was also most prevalent among the Ghana Police Service than any other state institution.

Interestingly, 1 out of every 4 Ghanaians paid a bribe in 2021.

The report also focused on bribery taking into consideration gender parities, revealing, that almost three percent of women are asked for sexual favors in exchange for government services.

Meanwhile, male officials are more likely to ask for bribes than their female counterparts.

UNODC in Ghana hopes to strengthen government actions against corruption with this new scientific foundation.

Twitter chooses Ghana as host for its first African Office

 

Twitter chooses Ghana as host for its first African Office

Global social media company, Twitter has established its first physical presence on the African continent in Ghana.

The company says Ghana was chosen as its stepping stone into Africa because Ghana is a supporter of free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet, of which Twitter is also an advocate. Furthermore, Ghana’s recent appointment to host The Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area aligns with Twitter’s overarching goal to establish a presence in the region that will support its efforts to improve and tailor service across Africa.

The social network is particularly popular in the US where, as of January 2021, the micro-blogging service had an audience reach of 69.3 million users. Globally, as of the third quarter of 2020, Twitter had 187 million monetisable daily active users, according to research firm, Statista.

Announcing the Ghana move, Twitter says: “Today, in line with our growth strategy, we’re excited to announce that we are now actively building a team in Ghana. To truly serve the public conversation, we must be more immersed in the rich and vibrant communities that drive the conversations taking place everyday across the African continent.”

The company on its blog adds: “Twitter’s mission is to serve the public conversation, and it’s essential for the world and for Twitter, to increase the number of people who feel comfortable participating in it. To do this, we need to make it easier for everyone to join in and provide more relevant experiences for people across the world.”

It is now looking for specialists to join its Ghana teams, including product, design, engineering, marketing and communications. Full details on current job openings can be found on the Twitter Careers site.

Reacting to the news, President Nana Akufo-Addo tweeted: “The choice of Ghana as HQ for Twitter’s Africa operations is excellent news. Government and Ghanaians welcome very much this announcement and the confidence reposed in our country.

“As I indicated to @Jack [Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey] in our virtual meeting of 7th April 2021, this is the start of a beautiful partnership between Twitter and Ghana, which is critical for the development of Ghana’s hugely important tech sector. These are exciting times to be in, and to do business in Ghana."

 

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