Accra, 3 December 2024, FSWA – FactSpace West Africa, a leading fact-checking organisation in the region, has announced the rollout of its Bulk Short Message Service (SMS) initiative to combat misinformation in offline communities across Ghana.
The project supported by the Google News Initiative is designed to deliver accurate and timely information to underserved areas, empowering citizens to make informed decisions.
This initiative leverages mobile technology to provide factual updates to communities with limited internet access. By addressing misinformation via SMS, FactSpace aims to curb the spread of offline false narratives, particularly during the run-up to Ghana’s December 7, 2024 general elections.
In a country where mobile phone penetration is high, but internet access remains limited in certain areas, bulk SMS has emerged as a powerful tool to bridge the digital divide. This initiative seeks to empower citizens with verified information, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
“Our goal is to bridge the information gap and ensure that credible, verified information reaches every corner of Ghana, regardless of internet access. With the support of the Google News Initiative, we are taking a significant step in empowering offline communities with facts, delivered directly to their mobile phones” Rabiu Alhassan, Executive Director of FactSpace West Africa said.
Key features of the initiative will include sending media information literacy content directly to phone numbers to ensure accessibility of fact-checks and factsheets.
The Bulk SMS initiative is part of FactSpace West Africa’s commitment to fostering an informed citizenry through innovative approaches. By reaching offline communities, FactSapce aims to strengthen trust in credible information sources while reducing the influence of misinformation.
FactSpace West Africa has previously deployed bulk SMS and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) in collaboration with Viamo Technologies and sought to leverage that opportunity to reach the offline community from now on and in the future.
The project would be executed collaboratively with local leaders, media outlets, and civil society organisations to maximise the impact of this initiative.
About FactSpace West Africa
FactSpace West Africa (WA) is an independent, non-partisan organisation working to tackle mis/disinformation and propaganda across the sub-region. We lead fact-checking initiatives in 5 countries, including The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone. FSWA is a signatory to the Code of Principles the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
By Julius Kofi Satsi
