The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission is holding a five-day event in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, aimed at addressing misinformation and disinformation ahead of the country’s presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025. The initiative is organized by ECOWAS’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). The event runs from September 29 to October 3, 2025, at the Seen Hotel in Plateau.
The program seeks to build the capacity of media professionals and civil society organizations (CSOs) to maintain professionalism and ethical standards during the electoral period. It also aims to discourage the use of media and CSO platforms for spreading hate speech, fake news, or other harmful content both during and beyond the election cycle.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ebenezer Ofosu Asiedu, Head of Democracy and Good Governance, spoke on behalf of Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, Honourable Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security. He stated: “Media practitioners and CSOs should conduct their activities in ways that support a peaceful and credible electoral process as Côte d’Ivoire consolidates its democratic achievements.” He also highlighted the need for innovative strategies based on global best practices to address challenges related to election coverage.
Participants include representatives from major newspapers, television stations, radio outlets, digital platforms, as well as key CSOs such as Centre de Recherche Politique d’Abidjan (CRPA), WANEP-CI, INDIGO, Réseau Action Justice et Paix (RAJP), and Convention de la Société Civile Ivoirienne (CSCI). This engagement underscores ECOWAS’s ongoing commitment to supporting credible elections and promoting peace across West Africa.