Published: November 26, 2025
-Cites need to counter misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation for public good
MONROVIA — The office of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Liberia, in partnership with GIZ (German international development organization) has trained over 40 journalists in information integrity-highlighting the need for adequate preparation to counter information that are harmful for the public.
Aware of the influx of unfiltered information thrown at the public, ECOWAS said the best group of professionals who are in the first line of defense against information that has the potential to cause harm are journalists and media practitioners and civil society organizations involved in promoting public truth-telling.
Madam Josephine Nkrumah, the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission to Liberia, Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah said the media play a vital role in shaping public opinions and as such, the need for credible and truth telling cannot be overemphasized.
Madam Nkrumah called on journalists to strengthen their role in safeguarding democracy amid growing threats of misinformation and disinformation across West Africa.
Speaking on behalf of ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray, Nkrumah said the two-day workshop aims to equip journalists with tools to counter harmful narratives that destabilize communities and weaken democratic institutions.
“This workshop is more than a training exercise; it is a crucial step in strengthening the fabric of our democracies,” she said. “Misinformation and disinformation not only distort public discourse but also erode trust in democratic institutions, fuel polarization and can even spark violence.”
The training, which was held on Monday and Tuesday and in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa and supported by GIZ and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, brings together journalists from a cros section of media outlets in Liberia.
The initiative has also been held in other ECOWAS member states. It is part of a wider ECOWAS initiative that has already trained media practitioners in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Ghana, Togo and Benin.
Nkrumah said the workshop responds directly to findings linking disinformation to ongoing conflicts in the region. She emphasized that accurate, ethical reporting remains essential to ECOWAS’ Vision 2050, which seeks to build a peaceful, secure and inclusive West Africa.
“None of these aspirations can be achieved without a well-informed public, a resilient media and a commitment to factual, ethical and responsible reporting,” she said.
Participants underwent sessions on fact-checking, open-source intelligence techniques, the use of artificial intelligence to detect disinformation patterns, conflict-sensitive reporting, human rights journalism and media literacy strategies to help citizens better identify credible information.
According to Nkrumah, these skills are critical as West African states face “unprecedented challenges,” including complex security crises and the rapid spread of divisive narratives online.
She also highlighted that the workshop builds on commitments made during the 2024 ECOWAS Experts Meeting with heads of government-owned television stations and follows a 2023 memorandum of understanding between ECOWAS and the MFWA to strengthen regional cooperation in countering disinformation.
Nkrumah urged journalists to apply the training to bolster accountability and foster social cohesion.
“This training represents an opportunity to strengthen your role as custodians of truth, champions of transparency and defenders of democracy,” she said. “We urge you to use the knowledge gained here to help nurture a culture of peace and inclusion in our region.”
She reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to supporting member states and media professionals through partnerships, capacity-building efforts and innovation.
“A free, ethical and informed press is not only the lifeblood of democracy but also a cornerstone of peace and security,” she added.
In her goodwill message, the Chancellor and Deputy to the Ambassador of Germany to Liberia, Ms. Daniella WEBER, said, “Germany, through GIZ, is proud to support ECOWAS in strengthening communication, building institutional capacity, and empowering those who safeguard public information.”
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