Some 30 Participants Certificated To Help Counter Emerging Risk
PHOTO: ECOWAS Amb. Josephine Nkrumah (middle), German diplomat, Daniela Weber and NfWA official Dr. Kojo Inpraim
Monrovia, Liberia- A two-day training of some 30 Liberian Journalists on Information Integrity organized by the Economic West African States (ECOWAS) in partnership with GIZ and Media Foundation for West Africa ended on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 with participants being certificated, as Garmah Never Lomo reports.
The workshop provided the Journalists with the knowledge and skills to effectively deal with the rising rate of disinformation, misinformation and Malformation and digital tools needed to verify photos, content and videos
Speaking at the close of the workshop, ECOWAS Representative in Liberia, Ambassador Josephine Nkumah said that the workshop is more than a training exercise; a crucial step in strengthening the fabric of West Africa’s our democracies.
She said it would reinforce peace and security, and empowering journalists to counter the pervasive threats of misinformation and disinformation that undermine the stability of our region.
“Let me take this opportunity to thank our partners: GIZ and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for their unwavering support to this program and the Media Foundation for West Africa for their partnership. I also commend the participating journalists for taking time from your demanding schedules to attend this Future, training. Your dedication underscores the vital role the media plays in shaping our collective though deepening democratic values,” Amb. Nkrumah said.
She added that, ECOWAS recognizes the media as an indispensable partner in fostering peace, social cohesion.
“Our region faces unprecedented challenges – from complex security to the rapid spread of harmful and divisive narratives online. Misinformation and disinformation not only distort public discourse but also erode trust institutions, fuel polarization, and can even spark violence,” the ECOWAS envoy noted.
Amb. Nykumah spoke of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which she said places such a premium on building a peaceful, secure and inclusive region – a region in which democratic governance, social inclusion, sustainable development, and environmental stewardship are mutually reinforcing.
According to her, 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 indicated that the training, organized in partnership with MFWA and supported by GIZ OD and BMZ, is a direct response to the rising tide of information disorder in West Africa and the Sahel.
The ECOWAS Ambassador further said that the just-ended workshopt reflects the insights from research and consultations that underscore the link between disinformation and ongoing conflicts in our region.
“We have already piloted similar workshops in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Ghana, Togo and the Republic of Benin with remarkable success. Now, we are pleased to launch the next phase here in Liberia. Together, we will equip state-owned and private media practitioners with the knowledge, skills and tools to uphold information integrity and promote responsible journalism” madam Nykumah lamented.
German diplomat says proper information stabilizes communities
For her part, Daniela Weber, Chancellor and Deputy to the Ambassador of Germany in Liberia said, Proper information does not just report events; it stabilizes communities.
Miss, Weber expressed that, strengthens nations. However, misinformation and disinformation continue to spread rapidly, often faster than the truth. They can divide communities, inflame tensions, and undermine public confidence. This makes your role as media professionals even more crucial.
She expressed appreciation to the ECOWAS Directorate of Communication for spearheading this initiative across several Member States. Their leadership in promoting information integrity demonstrates a deep commitment to building a more informed, connected, and resilient ECOWAS region.
According to her, this training will equip you with practical tools such as fact-checking, digital verification, and media literacy, all essential in today’s complex information landscape. These skills-will support you in ensuring that the Liberian public receives balanced, verified, and factual information.
The Deputy Ambassador and Chancellor concluded that, Germany, through GIZ, is proud to support ECOWAS in strengthening communications, building institutional capacity, and empowering those who safeguard public information. This partnership reflects our shared vision of a peaceful and prosperous region under the ECOWAS Vision 2050.
MfWA official on evolving risk from digital technologies expansion
Also speaking at the opening of the training was Dr. Kojo Impraim, Director Media for Peace and Social Cohesion, Media Foundation for West Africa said, the Proliferation of digital technologies has expanded access to information.
But it has also introduced evolving risks, with unchecked spread of false and harmful content, including misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech (MDH).
Dr. Impraim revealed that, Unequal access to information ecosystems and new technologies; weak infrastructure; and low digital and media and information literacy (MIL)
He said participants were drilled through the use of digital platforms (social media), new ways of content generation, information manipulation and the ease with which information is circulated and consumed by multiplicity of malicious state and non-state actors entrench false beliefs in society.
Dr. Inpriam said this runs counter to the positive side of social media as important platform for citizens to gather information, share opinions, debate and participate in governance processes.
The MfWA official listed several issues which are compounded by the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in digital spaces.
“We are also confronted with Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference by multiplicity of bad actors both domestic and foreign: some are political actors, media, social media influencers, and foreign entities that have leveraged on digital platforms to promote falsehood, distort public discourse and inflame tensions,” he said.
According to Dr. Impraim, Journalism and journalists for that matter is a profession. But increasing we are seeing a growing number of rotten apples among you/journalists who spew hate speech, propaganda, rhetoric and toxic narratives which undermine democratic consolidation (particularly election integrity).
“The media is caught up in the web and have become purveyors for spreading MDH, polarising and toxic narratives that cause social tension and division.”
From our analysis at the Foundation, ECOWAS and GIZ, we observe several factors accounting for this.
Key among them is the challenge of skills enhancement on digital literacy such as utilization of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) tools, AI, and other technological methods for data collection and management, and fact- checking, anti-MDH and anti-FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) advocacy.
The partnership also hinges on an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ECOWAS and the MFWA which seeks to foster and strengthen collaboration to tackle the menace of MDH, FIMI and violent extremist narratives in West Africa in order to promote good governance, peace and security.