Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, expressed concern over the adverse impact of misinformation and disinformation on national development.
He said the issue is of more concern especially as the country prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections in December.
Addressing this, he warned all stakeholders including the military and other security agencies to remain vigilant against being duped by fake and misleading materials that could lead to unnecessary action.
He made the call while speaking at the joint graduation ceremony of the 45th Course and Masters in Defence and International Politics at the Ghana Defence Forces Command and Staff College, which took place on Friday, August 23, 2024 in Accra.
He commended the Ghana Army for its role in ensuring that Ghanaian democracy is a model for the region and charged it to zealously defend this hard-won reputation.
“This is again the year Ghanaians elect their leaders and parliamentary representatives. Over the years, despite being free and fair, our elections have been riddled with security challenges and, in some cases, fatalities.”
“In the Fourth Republic, our government has always relied on your expertise, discipline and determination to carry out your duties without fear or prejudice. However, we live in times of intense misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeted at ordinary citizens, at you, at the Armed Forces and at our government.
“You must understand that these actions have the potential to not only plunge the country into anarchy, but also have wider implications for the security of the West African region. I urge you all to familiarize yourself with the teachings on how to behave professionally, especially after a detailed understanding of the democratic control of the military. It is essential to ensure that stability and democratic principles are maintained at all times,” he said.
Vice President Bawumia, who is also the Chairman of the Police Council, noted the ever-changing dynamics of war and conflict, particularly in the West African region, and commended the Ghana Defence Forces Command and Staff College’s Management for introducing courses at the College that reflect the changing times.
“As you know, the world has been experiencing continuous changes in the global balance of power and security over the years. Compared to a few decades ago, the situation today is obviously much more unpredictable… In this regard, it is clear that the scope of war and security threats has changed as well and will continue to evolve from traditional means and mediums to more complex structures. The tactics of actors such as violent extremist groups have changed from large-scale collective invasions to surgical strikes targeting key national infrastructure using cheap modified first-person kamikaze drones that are highly lethal in addition to other equally lethal approaches.”
“Similarly, misinformation and disinformation activities have become commonplace, generating support for them and discontent with the existing central government. In this regard, the introduction of a Multi-Domain Operations module in the university curriculum is not only timely but also crucial in instilling in graduates the much-needed knowledge of modern military service, developing counter measures and providing key training concepts required to combat such threats. This will better position our armed forces, sister security agencies and allied militaries alike to more effectively defend Ghana and our respective friendly nations,” he stressed.
The Vice President urged the graduating class, who hail from 17 countries including Ghana, to use the insights they gained during the course and the relationships they forged with their colleagues in different parts of the continent to work collaboratively to safeguard peace and security in Africa and the world.
“I believe that the modules and seminars you have undertaken have provided you with the foundation to build relationships and engage across borders. Hence, you need to understand that cooperative efforts are crucial to realise national security objectives and operational goals. These further shed light on the nature of joint operations and the crucial role played by allies, multinational organisations, sister security organisations and government agencies in achieving the set goals,” he said.
“I urge you to leverage the relationships you have built to help strengthen our collaboration and further urge you to use the knowledge you have gained to make a meaningful impact as you assume positions that are vital to the development of the Ghana Armed Forces, military and institutions.”
