Election 2016: MFWA Fact-Checks Campaign Claims

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has initiated a fact-checking project to verify claims, policies and assertions made by key actors in the electoral campaign process. Claims and assertions by presidential candidates, running mates and top party officials will be fact-checked.

Fact-checked reports will review which claims are true or false, those that may be misleading, half-truths, among others.

The project under the broad spectrum of promoting an issues-based campaign for peaceful elections in 2016, seeks to ensure that claims and assertions made by key personalities or groups on political and media platforms are factual. A dedicated team of experienced journalists and researchers have been recruited and trained for the project.

“In previous elections, claims by contending parties and candidates have often passed unchecked and thus inured to the benefit of those who made erroneous claims. Giving that claims have not been fact-checked in past elections, candidates and parties continue to resort to false messages, propaganda and unrealistic promises, which tend to deceive the voting population,” said Sulemana Braimah, the Executive Director of MFWA.

The MFWA is collaborating with Joy News in the implementation of the project.The project is being implemented with funding support from German media development giant, DW Akadamie.

Read the fact-checked reports on claims made by President John Mahama at NDC's campaign launch. Earlier reports on claims made by Ivor Greenstreet and Dr Edward Mahama at the Institute of Economic Affairs' Evening Encounters are also available on the site. Follow the project by visiting www.fact-checkghana.com.