By Michaella Faith Wright
The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) recently hosted the opening of the 2024 ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) Symposium and General Assembly in Freetown. The event’s theme, “Information Integrity and Electoral Integrity: What Role for EMBs and Social Media”, emphasized the critical role of electoral bodies in combating misinformation in the election process.
The symposium brought together electoral officials, media representatives, and political stakeholders to address the increasing threats of misinformation to democratic processes in West Africa. Attendees noted that misinformation—particularly online—can significantly impact public trust and influence voter behavior, with recent elections in the region demonstrating the rapid spread of unverified information.
Mohammed Konneh, ECSL Chief and ECONEC President, delivered a powerful closing statement, stressing that both transparency and access to information are vital to sustaining credible elections. “Misinformation around elections is a growing issue, especially with the influence of social media. Our duty is to ensure that the electorate has access to reliable, accurate information that upholds the integrity of the electoral process,” Konneh remarked.
Discussions also focused on how EMBs, political parties, and social media platforms can collaborate to curb the spread of misleading narratives and encourage credible sources of information. Konneh highlighted the responsibility of politicians to provide factual information relating to their parties, while urging journalists to uphold the highest standards of accuracy. “It’s essential that journalists play their role in disseminating verified information to the public. Politicians, too, bear a responsibility to communicate honestly, so voters are not misled,” he stated.
As the symposium concluded, Konneh called for stronger partnerships between electoral management bodies, the media, and political stakeholders. He emphasized that with coordinated efforts, the region could strengthen its democratic processes and ensure transparency and trust in future elections.