ECOWAS Partners The Media To Combat Misinformation About West Africa’s Socio-Economic Development

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced a collaboration with regional media on Thursday to improve its image and highlight its contributions to West Africa’s socioeconomic development.

Speaking at the inaugural session, which brought government-owned media outlets from across the region together in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Hon. Abdou Kolley, Chief of Staff in the Office of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, stated that the initiative was created to promote accurate reporting of ECOWAS activities while also addressing the growing issue of disinformation.

Kolley stated that the event, themed ‘Strategic Engagement with Public Media Actors in Our Member States to Strengthen Collaboration and Positive Coverage of ECOWAS Programmes and to Combat Disinformation in West Africa,’ is also timed to prepare ground for the forthcoming ECOWAS 50th-anniversary celebrations and to bring information to the people of the region on the bloc’s contributions to the socioeconomic wellbeing and humanitarian interventions in the last half-century.

Kolley, speaking to media leaders from across West Africa at the inaugural high-level consultative meeting in Abuja, stated that the programme was organised in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), and that the two-day event is part of a larger effort to ensure media outlets serve as key partners in promoting ECOWAS’s mission of regional integration, peace, and development.

Kolley, speaking on behalf of ECOWAS President Dr. Omar Touray, emphasised the importance of the media in shaping public opinion and influencing the sociopolitical landscape.

He stated that misinformation, particularly on social media, continues to be a significant challenge for the organisation, emphasising the importance of accurate media coverage.

He stated, “The ECOWAS Commission recognises the media as one of our indispensable and critical stakeholders.

“As gatekeepers and information providers, we are acutely aware of the media’s critical role in fostering and maintaining goodwill and mutual understanding between the Commission and its constituents.

“This explains why the Commission has convened this important stakeholders’ meeting with the Heads of government-owned broadcast stations as part of our ongoing efforts to proactively broaden our engagement and strengthen our collaboration with the media in order to achieve our common and shared vision as encapsulated by our vision 2050, on the eve of our institution’s 50th anniversary.”

Kolley stated that the media’s role in countering false narratives and raising awareness about ECOWAS’ accomplishments is critical to fostering regional unity and public trust.

He stated that the meeting comes at a time when West Africa is facing a number of challenges, including political instability, economic pressures, and an increase in misinformation on digital platforms.

He revealed that the partnership between ECOWAS and the MFWA, which will be formalised in December 2023, aims to strengthen media capacity to address these challenges.

He stated that the collaboration will focus on promoting democratic values, countering disinformation, and fostering regional peace.

Kolley also shared highlights from the 2024 Interim Report on the state of ECOWAS institutions, emphasising progress in economic integration, peacebuilding, and humanitarian response.

He did, however, mention that misinformation frequently overshadows these achievements, which is why ECOWAS is eager to strengthen its media partnerships.

He stated, “The summary presentation of the results recorded during the first half of 2024 demonstrates that ECOWAS is making a concerted effort to support its Member States.

“Unfortunately, our communities are not well-informed about these efforts. Instead, they are bombarded with false information deliberately disseminated by certain vile individuals via social media with the intent of destroying our common institution.

“Indeed, as is frequently stated, the lack of credible information fosters disinformation,” the Chief of Staff lamented.

Kolley urged media partners to continue working closely with ECOWAS to inform and engage the public, ensuring that the organization’s work is widely understood and appreciated throughout West Africa.

He stated, “I hope that by the end of this two-day interactive meeting, the Commission will be in a better position to: Coordinate with national media partners to raise awareness of ECOWAS and its activities in the Member States among the citizens of the Community by increasing media programmes on ECOWAS as part of the celebration of our institution’s 50th anniversary.”

“Strengthen the capacity of Member States’ media to contribute to the reinforcement of democratic values and peace through media initiatives focused on combating narratives of violent extremism and radicalisation, as well as combating misinformation.”