Tamale, Ghana — More than fifty Queen Mothers from Ghana’s five northern regions have completed a one-day capacity-building workshop on disinformation and misinformation in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital. The participating regions included the Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West regions.
The sixth edition of the annual training was organized by the Ghana Office of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in collaboration with the National Queen Mothers’ Platform (QMP)-Ghana under the theme “Combating Disinformation and Misinformation: The Role of Queen Mothers in Ensuring Good Governance.” The workshop sought to equip Queen Mothers with practical tools to counter false information and strengthen their communication skills as community leaders.
Dr. Joseph A. Darmoe, Director of Programmes at KAS Ghana, described disinformation and misinformation as major threats to societal growth and development, warning that they can damage reputations, influence elections, fuel ethnic and political tensions, and even lead to violence. He reminded the Queen Mothers of their vital role as trusted custodians of their communities, emphasizing that their voices can restore clarity in times of confusion.
Dr. Elvis B. Botah of the Centre for Peace and Security Research, one of the facilitators, highlighted the influence of traditional authorities in shaping social norms and governance. He noted that Queen Mothers serve as connectors between formal state institutions and traditional communities, especially where trust in modern systems is low. Dr. Botah lamented their exclusion from formal decision-making bodies such as the Regional and National Houses of Chiefs and called for institutional inclusion and cultural reforms that support women’s participation in public discourse.
Another facilitator, Dr. James Kwabena Bonfeh Jnr. of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), urged the Queen Mothers to fact-check information before sharing it and to be wary of rumours and half-truths. He advised them to consider the motives behind stories and to appoint individuals of integrity to leadership and regulatory positions.
President of QMP-Ghana and Paramount Queen Mother of the Osudoku Traditional Area, Nana Amponsah Dokua III, expressed gratitude to KAS for its continued support and collaboration. She hoped the partnership would reach more Queen Mothers nationwide, thereby positively impacting their communities.
Certificates of participation were presented to all attendees. The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a German political foundation, promotes democracy, rule of law, social market economy, and human rights globally, with a focus on civic education and political consulting.