The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described the “Agyapadie” document as a fabricated document by his opponents which is geared towards undermining his political career.
Speaking at the Ghana Report Summit, themed “Dealing with Misinformation and Disinformation – Election 2024,” the President while highlighting the dangers of false information in the democratic process mentioned that the document which first surfaced in the run-up to the 2020 elections alleges a grand scheme by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to annex state assets.
However, President Akufo-Addo, has labeled it as a fabricated document that has been circulated by opposition operatives as evidence of the NPP’s supposed plans.
“This baseless accusation is yet another example of the malicious tactics used to undermine my credibility and integrity,” the President stated.
He stressed that “In the run-up to the 2008, 2012 and 2016 presidential elections, I was a target of numerous false and malicious stories attacking my credibility and integrity. In 2008, baseless allegations of drug trafficking were spread, along with numerous rumours about my health intended to cast doubt on my ability to serve as President.
“Again, the 2012 election saw false reports of my alleged arrest in London for drug possession and fabricated quotes designed to stir ethnic tension. In 2016, it was alleged by sympathizers of the opposition that I had killed my late wife. Today, with a few months to the 2024 elections, they are at it again. The fabricated document entitled ‘Agyapadie’ is being spread around by operatives of the opposition as evidence of a grand scheme by my party to annex the assets of the state,” he recounted.
President Akufo-Addo emphasised that combating misinformation and disinformation requires a multi-faceted approach which should include strengthening regulatory frameworks to hold individuals and organizations accountable for spreading false information.
He further called for the collaborations with technology companies to develop mechanisms for monitoring and curbing the spread of false information on digital platforms.
Public awareness campaigns, the first gentleman stated are also vital in educating citizens about the dangers of misinformation and disinformation and promoting media literacy to empower voters to make informed decisions.
All these, President Akufo-Addo stated further could also be achieved if all political actors commit to truthfulness and transparency in their campaigns.
