Political parties, civil society organisations, the media, and institutions like the Ministry of Information have pledged to ensure peaceful elections free from incitement, internet restrictions, and misrepresentation, as these issues can undermine public trust, affect voter behaviour, and compromise the electoral process.

During the Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Meetings (DREAM) in Accra on October 30, 2024, participants identified challenges such as misinformation, hate speech, and possible internet restrictions that could hinder electoral processes. They reached a consensus on the importance of protecting these rights to facilitate informed decision-making and uphold the credibility of elections.

The Paradigm Initiative (PIN), in collaboration with Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-Ghana), E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA), and the Internet Society Ghana Chapter (ISOC Ghana), organized the Ghana edition of DREAM in Accra.

DREAM is an initiative aimed at safeguarding digital rights before, during, and after elections while fostering collaborations to ensure that credible, verifiable, and independent information is accessible to citizens at all times.

Spearheaded by the Paradigm Initiative, this event has been adopted in various countries in response to the increasing incidents of human and digital rights abuses across the continent during election periods.

Participants from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), and People’s National Convention (PNC), as well as members of academia and government agencies like the Ministry of Information, Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, and the National Human Rights Institution of Ghana were present. Also, religious leaders, tech platforms like TikTok, and media representatives were also present.

The participating parties committed to communicating responsibly with their constituents, ensuring their messaging is free from incitement and misrepresentation. They pledged to uphold peace before, during, and after the elections, emphasising the importance of protecting digital rights and media freedom to ensure a credible electoral process.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) vowed to empower citizens by sharing accurate information about electoral processes and holding the government accountable for public concerns. They agreed to collaborate with development partners and state institutions to address digital rights abuses and improve election transparency. Furthermore, CSOs committed to working with media platforms to establish a code of conduct for election reporting to help reduce misinformation.

Media representatives pledged to rigorously verify information and report accurately to prevent the spread of misinformation that could sway public perception. This commitment highlights the media's critical role as a reliable source of information during elections.

The Ministry of Information promised to ensure uninterrupted internet access throughout the election period and to resist any restrictions, acknowledging that open access to information is vital to the democratic process.

Development partners stressed the importance of protecting internet freedom and committed to supporting civil society organisations (CSOs) in their democratic advocacy efforts.

They also pledged to actively engage in discussions about digital rights protection and to monitor the election environment to prevent any internet restrictions that could undermine transparency.

In a communiqué issued on Thursday, October 31, 2024, several recommendations were made, including that civil society organizations (CSOs) implement grassroots educational initiatives on electoral processes and digital rights.

Additionally, a structured code of conduct for media operations during election periods was suggested to encourage responsible journalism.

Stakeholders urged the government to publicly commit to avoiding internet shutdowns or restrictions during elections, aligning with principles of open and fair electoral practices.

Development partners and the international community were called upon to actively monitor Ghana’s digital rights landscape and support initiatives promoting transparency and accountability.

The establishment of fake news detection systems and the development of clear guidelines for online platforms, in collaboration with social media providers, were highlighted as essential measures for tackling election-related misinformation.

The forum also called for a review of the Ghanaian Constitution, particularly regarding the appointment processes within institutions, to ensure accountability and impartiality during elections.

Participants stressed the need to address emerging threats to Ghana’s democracy with vigilance, applying the same caution that is given to other countries facing similar challenges, to safeguard the country's democratic integrity.

“We are using this platform to communicate these vital commitments and recommendations to all Ghanaians and remind all citizen to hold the stakeholders to account.

"We encourage each citizen to uphold these principles within their areas of influence whether in community leadership, media, or online to support a fair, transparent, and democratic election process,” the communiqué said.