Fact
Checking: Penplusbytes
Ghana Elections 2016 Fact-Checker: “Tech Powered Early Warning System for Ghana
Elections 2016”
Fact-checking
plays an essential role in enhancing democratic accountability and political
discourse. Issues regarding politicians, political parties and Ghana’s 2016
elections were monitored by Penplusbytes’ team under the fact-checking review for
this week. The purpose of fact checking is to reduce hate speech, polarizing or inflammatory language and misinformation in
the Ghana 2016 Elections.
Definition
of Problem Types
|
Hate Speech:
Any
speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display which is forbidden because it
incites violence or prejudicial action against an individual or group, or
because it disparages or intimidates people.
|
Polarizing or Inflammatory Language:
A
form of speech that is used with the intent to stir up emotions, elicit
anger, or invoke a physical reaction, denigrate groups of people, or focus
hate or anger on a public figure
|
Misinformation (Distorted facts,
Falsehoods etc.):
False
or incorrect information, spread intentionally (without realizing it is untrue) or
unintentionally in order to deceive
|
ISSUE 1: “Over 250 guns are currently in the
possession of both NDC and NPP supporters.
Most of the people in the area are having sophisticated ammunitions such as pump action guns in their custody”
Most of the people in the area are having sophisticated ammunitions such as pump action guns in their custody”
VERDICT:
Misleading but calls for immediate police investigation
SUMMARY:
The
information gathered by the Penplusbytes Fact checking Team revealed that the
Communications Officer of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the
Asunafo South constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region, Derrick Nii Lokko
actually said on Adom FM’s current affairs programme “Burning Issues” that over
250 guns are in the possession of the supporters of the NDC and New Patriotic
Party (NPP). He warned that these guns could be used to foment chaos before,
during and after the December 7 polls. According to him, residents of the Asunafo
South are currently living in fear following recent violent clashes between
some supporters of NDC and NPP. The Electoral Commission (EC) was actually forced
to suspend the recent voter transfer exercise at Kukuom in the Region following
clashes and ransacking of the EC of by unidentified men.
Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Over-250-guns-in-custody-of-NDC-NPP-
supporters-NDC-man-alleges-473360; http://www.myarkfmonline.com/pages/index.php/general/item/2433-we-are-up-to-task-police-reply-s-asunafo-chiefs
While the police have since
assured the public that they are on top of the situation, having deployed personnel to the Asunafo South
constituency to provide adequate security for residents in the area, further checks done
by the Penplusbytes Fact Checker Team revealed that, the Asunafo South Constituency
has a history of gun incidence. This is why this claim must be investigated to
possibly retrieve the guns. For instance, on April 13th 2011, a
gunman reportedly shot into the bedroom of Mr. Osei Bonsu, the Asunafo South
NPP Chairman. Fortunately for Mr Bonsu, he was not in the room at the time of
the incident. Similarly, in September 2015, Mr. George Abanga, a reporter of
Success FM, a community Radio Station at Goaso in the Asunafo North
Municipality of Brong-Ahafo who also reported for Hello FM in Kumasi and Peace
FM in Accra was shot
dead at Kwapong in the Asunafo South
District by an unknown gun man.
It is therefore very important that, in view of the previous gun related
incidents and recent happenings in the constituency, the security services must
act swiftly to forestall any loss of lives and property especially in the lead
up to Ghana 2016 elections.
ISSUE 2: “Government will continue to implement the
Transforming Teacher Education and Learning Programme (T-TEL) to cover
professional training for 35,000 teachers in all the Colleges of Education”
VERDICT: True but misleading
SUMMARY:
At
page 16 and under Tertiary Education of the NDC 2016 Manifesto, Government would
“continue to implement the Transforming Teacher Education and Learning
Programme (T-TEL) to cover professional training for 35,000 teachers in all the
Colleges of Education”
Fact
Checked by the Penplusbytes Fact Checker Team indicates that the T-TEL project
is a four-year government programme, aimed at supporting the implementation of
the new policy framework for Pre-Tertiary Teacher Professional Development and
Management. T-TEL which seeks to transform and improve the quality of teaching
and learning in all Colleges of Education (CoEs) is funded by the UK Department for
International Development
(DFID) with £17 million (over 90 million Cedis) for 2015 - 2018). The programme
which is managed by the Cambridge Education is to help deliver transformation
in teacher education for Ghana. Therefore, the project is not entirely an
initiative of the Government of Ghana. Leaving out DFID in this manifesto
promise gives the impression that the project is entirely being funded by the government
of Ghana.
Source:
https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/a-programme-launch-on-transforming-teacher-education-and-learning-in-ghana
ISSUE 3: “Government is posting teachers to non-existing schools – SammyAwuku, National Youth Organizer of the NPP”
VERDICT: Misleading but must be investigated
SUMMARY:
In
an address on 28
September 2016 to the Wa branch of the Tertiary students’ Confederacy of the
NPP at the University of Development Studies, Mr Sammy Awuku, the National
Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) alleged that the NDC and the
Education Ministry are posting teachers to non-existing schools in an attempt
to influence voters in the upcoming 2016 Elections. According to him, there is
enough evidence that this is the case. "The video is there, one guy, a
teacher from Sunyani who has been posted to Labusi, the whole town if you ask
anyone about the school, no one knows where the school is; it does not exist.
How can you be posting teachers to non-existing schools, don't let this 419
government turn your six into nine"
Source: http://starrfmonline.com/1.9931424
While this
claim is very difficult to independently verify because locations in the remote
areas of Ghana are often very difficult to trace, the Penplusbytes Fact
Checking team has established that a group calling itself Teacher Trainees
Advocacy (TTA) had earlier suggested that government should explain the
recent postings of newly-trained teachers without appointment letters, saying
their members were surprised about the development. https://kasapafmonline.com/2016/09/23/govt-must-avoid-tricks-newly-trained-teachers-tta/
Another source close to the Ghana
Education Service (GES) indicates that the Service was posting newly-trained
teachers who would not be required to start work until the necessary paperwork
for the payment of their salaries has been completed. This was contained in a
memo dated September 14, 2016, and signed by GES Deputy Director-General
Cynthia Bosumtwi-Sam, the source alleged. According to this source, the
recruited teachers “are not to be in the classroom to teach”. Formal letters
and salaries would also be paid only after financial clearance by the Ministry
of Finance.
In this
regard, the GES must explain whether all the newly posted teachers have been
assigned to schools or some are waiting for some paper works to ascertain the
validity or otherwise of this claim
ISSUE 4: “I will go on
exile but fight from abroad as a freedom fighter to save Ghanaians if NPP lose 2016
elections”
VERDICT:
True
SUMMARY:
A
former deputy local government Minister and the former NPP member of Parliament
for the Asokwa Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Maxwell Kofi Jumah actually
said this on a radio program. According to him, he would be compelled to embark
on a self-imposed exile should the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lose the 2016
polls, though would continue to fight from outside for democracy to ensure that
Ghanaians see the need to vote out the governing National Democratic Congress
(NDC).
Source: http://gombe.citynewsline.com.ng/news/ill-go-on-exile-if-npp-lose-2016 elections#sthash.tCNktDdj.dpuf
Though
he was also optimistic that NPP would win the 2016 polls, statements such this
tend to reinforce the fear that elections in Ghana are approached as a do-or-die
affair. http://www.ghanabreakingnews.com/2016/09/19/ill-go-exile-; http://gombe.citynewsline.com.ng/news/ill-go-on-exile-if-npp-lose-2016-elections
The ultimate aim of this exercise is to educate and inform the
electorate so they make informed choices at the polls, and to
encourage politicians to make realistic promises and campaign on policy issues. Ghana
Elections 2016 fact checking service is being implemented by www.penplusbytes.org with funding from National Endowment for Democracy (www.ned.org)
A SERVICE BY @PENPLUSBYTES’ African Elections Project (AEP)
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