Bono Region Queen Mothers Receive Training on Combating Disinformation

In a significant move to combat misinformation challenges in Ghana, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Ghana Office has partnered with the National Queen Mothers of Ghana’s Bono Region chapter to equip traditional female leaders with critical information verification skills.

The 6th Annual Queen Mothers workshop, held in Sunyani, focused on the theme “Combating Disinformation and Misinformation: The Role of Queen Mothers in Ensuring Good Governance.” The initiative comes at a crucial time when false information increasingly threatens democratic institutions and social cohesion across the country.

Nana Yaa Ansua III, Paramount Queen Mother of the Drobo Traditional Area and President of the Bono Queen Mothers Platform, emphasized the security implications of unchecked misinformation in local communities.

“One of the major threats to our security in the localities is this disinformation and misinformation,” she stated. “I am excited we are being trained about it, so we can impact our various localities.”

Traditional authorities in Ghana hold significant influence, particularly in rural communities where they often serve as the primary source of information and guidance. The workshop aimed to leverage this influence by equipping queen mothers with verification tools to help stem the tide of false information that often spreads rapidly through informal networks.

Dr. Joseph Darmoe, Programmes Director of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s Ghana Office, explained that the workshop sought to build capacity among these influential female leaders.

“We want to provide Queen Mothers with the necessary capacity to address issues of disinformation and misinformation in our ecosystem,” Dr. Darmoe noted. “We want them to understand their roles and how to properly manage relevant information so that there would be peace and harmony in the various communities.”

The workshop featured notable facilitators, including Dr. James Kwabena Bomfeh Jr., a lecturer at the University of Professional Studies in Accra. His message to the queen mothers stressed the importance of maintaining political neutrality to preserve their authority and respect.

“The office they hold is political, but it is not partisan in nature as we have seen in contemporary times,” Dr. Bomfeh advised. “For them to be able to win the respect and honor deserving of that office, it is important they stay above the fray and do what is dignifying.”

This guidance comes at a particularly relevant time for Ghana, which faces general elections next year. During election periods, misinformation often surges, threatening to inflame tensions between political factions and potentially undermining electoral processes.

Theresah Adjei-Mensah, Ghana’s Ambassador-Designate to the Czech Republic, who chaired the conference, challenged the queen mothers to create meaningful legacies in their communities, following historical examples.

“You need to strive to make impacts in your communities just as some Queen Mothers did in the past. You are the custodians of our traditions, and a lot is expected from you,” she emphasized.

The initiative reflects a growing recognition across Africa that traditional leadership structures remain vital channels for information dissemination, particularly in rural areas where internet penetration and digital literacy may be limited. By empowering these leaders with media literacy skills, organizations like KAS aim to create grassroots defenses against misinformation.

The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a German political foundation, has been active in Ghana for several decades. Its mission centers on promoting democracy, rule of law, social market economy, and human rights worldwide. This workshop aligns with the foundation’s broader goals of strengthening democratic institutions and civic education in the country.

As Ghana and many other African nations grapple with the effects of digital misinformation, initiatives that bridge traditional governance systems with modern information challenges represent important steps toward building more resilient information ecosystems and supporting democratic governance at the community level.