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ECOWAS Takes Bold Steps to Combat Disinformation in West Africa
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has launched a comprehensive initiative to combat disinformation and strengthen information integrity across the West African region. In late January 2026, the Commission’s Directorate of Communication organized a two-day regional training program in Cabo Verde, bringing together journalists and media practitioners from across the region.
The training program aimed to equip media professionals with essential tools to detect, counter, and report on disinformation while maintaining the principles of ethical, fact-based journalism. This initiative reflects ECOWAS’s commitment to bolstering democratic governance and fostering informed public discourse throughout West Africa.
During the opening ceremony, Mamadou Moustapha Seck, Deputy Coordinator of the ECOWAS national office, emphasized the training’s significance in enabling journalists to tackle disinformation and promote responsible journalism. “The first step in getting back to basics is to ensure the integrity of information, wherever it may come from and whatever interest it may hold for different parties,” Seck stated, calling on media professionals to “exercise self-restraint, rise above partisan contingencies, and uphold the principles of ethics and professional conduct.”
The initiative comes at a critical time for West Africa, where misinformation and fake news have increasingly threatened regional stability and democratic processes. The training program aligns with ECOWAS’s Vision 2050, adopted in 2022, which identifies peace, security, and stability as the first pillar of its regional development strategy.
This collaborative effort brought together several key stakeholders. The program was organized by Joël Ahofodji, Acting Director of Communications at the ECOWAS Commission, with support from Jonas Tylewski, Director of Communications at the German Embassy in Senegal, and Dr. Impraim Kojo, Director of Programmes at the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).
Dr. Kojo praised the collaboration, noting that the training’s ultimate goal is to strengthen democracy, counter the spread of fake news, and safeguard peace in the region. Meanwhile, Tylewski highlighted the dangers of unverified information and reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to working with ECOWAS and Senegal to promote accurate information as a fundamental pillar of peace and democracy.
The training program focused on enhancing participants’ capacities in media and information literacy, fact-checking, responsible use of digital tools, and ethical journalism. These skills are considered essential to promoting democracy and good governance throughout the region.
Kelly Lopes, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Cabo Verde, underscored the strategic importance of media as a pillar of democratic governance and social cohesion. She emphasized that information integrity is crucial for maintaining public trust and regional stability in an era where digital misinformation can rapidly undermine institutions.
Joël Ahofodji explained that the training seeks to enhance journalists’ abilities to deliver responsible, investigative, and fact-based reporting capable of countering disinformation while supporting peace and democratic values in West Africa.
Representatives from partner organizations, including Seco Baldé from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Dr. Kojo Impraim from the Media Foundation for West Africa, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting ECOWAS in building a resilient, professional, and ethical media ecosystem aligned with Vision 2050.
Through this initiative, ECOWAS aims to institutionalize information integrity as a strategic pillar of democratic governance and regional stability. By equipping journalists with necessary skills, ethical standards, and digital tools, the organization hopes to effectively counter information disorder in the region.
The training program reflects ECOWAS’s broader commitment to strengthening professional and resilient media systems, fostering informed public discourse, and supporting peace, social cohesion, and regional integration—all core components of the organization’s Vision 2050 for a peaceful, integrated, and prosperous West Africa.
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16 Comments
Equipping journalists with the skills to detect and counter disinformation is a smart strategy for ECOWAS. Fact-based reporting is essential for maintaining a well-informed citizenry.
I hope the training program also covers strategies for combating the spread of misinformation on social media platforms. That’s a crucial front in the battle against disinformation.
Kudos to ECOWAS for taking proactive steps to address the threat of disinformation in West Africa. Empowering media professionals to uphold ethical, fact-based journalism is a crucial step forward.
It will be interesting to see how this training program evolves and whether it can serve as a model for other regions grappling with the challenges of disinformation.
Disinformation can undermine public trust and subvert democratic processes. ECOWAS’s proactive approach to combating this challenge through media training is commendable.
I’m interested to learn more about the specific tools and techniques that will be taught to journalists during this training program.
Media literacy and fact-based journalism are essential bulwarks against the spread of disinformation. This regional training program could have a significant impact on improving information quality in West Africa.
I hope the training also addresses the issue of social media platforms being used to amplify false narratives. Tackling disinformation at the source is crucial.
This ECOWAS initiative to bolster media professionalism and information integrity is a much-needed response to the growing problem of disinformation. Strengthening journalistic standards is crucial for a healthy democracy.
I’m curious to see if the training program includes sessions on developing fact-checking capabilities and verifying information sources. Those skills will be vital for journalists in the region.
Combating disinformation is crucial for maintaining public trust and informed decision-making. This ECOWAS initiative to train journalists on detecting and reporting misinformation is a welcome step in the right direction for West Africa.
Strengthening information integrity is key to fostering healthy democratic discourse. I’m curious to see how the training program equips media professionals with the necessary skills.
Combating disinformation through media training is a smart move by ECOWAS. Strengthening the ability of journalists to identify and counter false narratives is essential for maintaining public trust and informed decision-making.
I hope the training program also explores ways to hold social media platforms accountable for the spread of misinformation on their platforms. That’s a crucial component of the fight against disinformation.
Promoting responsible, ethical journalism is a vital step in safeguarding information integrity. This ECOWAS initiative could have far-reaching implications for the quality of public discourse in West Africa.
It’s heartening to see regional bodies taking concrete actions to address the growing threat of disinformation. This training program could serve as a model for other parts of the world.