Ghana has earned its place as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, known for peaceful elections and a lively media space. Yet, as the nation approaches another crucial vote, a new kind of threat is emerging, one that cannot be seen at polling stations but spreads rapidly online. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) now make it possible to create deepfakes, realistic but fabricated videos, audios, and images that can mislead voters and distort public debate. Around the world, we have already seen the damage this can cause, a fake audio of U.S. President Joe Biden circulated before the 2024 primaries; in India and Nigeria, AI-generated campaign materials sparked confusion and hostility. With millions of Ghanaians relying on WhatsApp and Facebook for political news, the question is no longer whether deepfakes will appear, but how prepared we are to protect our democracy from their influence.
Why Do Deepfakes and Disinformation Matter?
Deepfakes are AI-generated or digitally altered videos, images, or audio clips that make people appear to say or do things they never did. Created using advanced machine learning models such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), they can mimic human voices, gestures, and expressions with stunning accuracy. While originally designed for entertainment and satire, deepfakes have evolved into powerful tools for political manipulation. In election contexts, they can fabricate scandals, fake endorsements, or erode trust in institutions, often spreading faster than fact-checkers can respond. Recent global events illustrate this danger. In the United States, a deepfake audio of President Joe Biden discourage voters ahead of the 2024 primaries, prompting the FCC to ban AI-generated voices in robocalls. India and Nigeria also witnessed deepfake campaign materials circulating widely on WhatsApp and TikTok, fuelling division and misinformation. Even Slovakia’s 2023 elections saw a fake audio clip influence voter confidence. As these examples show, deepfakes can produce convincing falsehoods that thrive in a social media environment where millions of Ghanaians increasingly get their political news.
Risks to electoral integrity
The growing use of artificial intelligence to create deepfakes and disinformation poses a real threat to the integrity of Ghana’s elections. Once celebrated for credible polls, the country’s democratic space is now vulnerable to digital manipulation that can distort public opinion and erode trust in institutions. Deepfakes, fabricated videos or audio recordings of political figures, can easily spread false narratives before being debunked. Similar tactics have already shaped politics elsewhere. AI-edited clips targeting U.S. and Nigerian candidates went viral before fact-checkers intervened. In Ghana, a 2020 doctored video falsely portraying an opposition leader making ethnic slurs showed how misinformation can inflame tensions. As deepfake tools become more accessible, their potential to influence voters grows ever stronger. Ghana’s elections have not been immune to the dangers of misinformation. In 2020, false reports circulated on Facebook alleging attacks on poll officials and tampering with ballot boxes, claims that, according to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), contributed to tensions and violence in Techiman South and other constituencies. Across Africa, similar patterns have emerged. During Kenya’s 2022 elections, fake videos depicting violent acts by opposition supporters spread widely, deepening mistrust and fear. As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, such tactics could escalate in Ghana, with AI-generated videos or audio easily weaponised to stir anger, especially in closely contested areas and among highly active online youth communities.
Deepfakes and disinformation pose a growing threat to public confidence in Ghana’s key democratic institutions, including the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Peace Council, and the security services. During the 2020 voter registration exercise, viral WhatsApp messages falsely claimed the EC was secretly deleting opposition supporters from the register, a rumour later debunked by Dubawa Ghana. The danger today is that similar falsehoods could be reinforced with AI-generated evidence such as fake EC press releases or manipulated videos. Such convincing digital forgeries could erode public trust, cast doubt on electoral integrity, and weaken the legitimacy of the very institutions that safeguard Ghana’s democracy. Ghana’s vibrant media landscape, though largely professional, faces increasing challenges in verifying digital content. As deepfakes become more convincing, journalists and fact-checkers may find it harder to determine authenticity before publication. A 2023 UNESCO report on misinformation in Africa warns that AI-generated content could “overwhelm local fact-checking capacity,” leading even reputable outlets to unintentionally amplify falsehoods. In a fast-paced news environment where accuracy competes with speed, the risk of publishing AI-manipulated material is real, potentially compromising public trust in the media and further complicating efforts to preserve Ghana’s information integrity.
Opportunities for Mitigation
While the threat of AI-generated misinformation is real, Ghana is well-positioned to confront it. The country’s strong civil society, credible electoral institutions, and growing digital awareness provide a solid foundation for resilience. Addressing these emerging risks, however, requires a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach, one that combines civic education, ethical political behaviour, and vigilant regulation to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s democratic processes.
The Role of the Electoral Commission and National Communications Authority (NCA)
The Electoral Commission (EC) has long upheld transparency through voter education and public engagement, but the rise of AI-generated content demands new strategies. Establishing an AI and Disinformation Monitoring Unit during election periods could help detect viral falsehoods, issue timely fact-checks, and maintain public trust. The National Communications Authority (NCA) can further support this by enforcing digital communication standards and curbing coordinated disinformation. Similar collaborations, such as India’s 2024 partnership between its Election Commission and Meta to remove fake election content, offer practical lessons for Ghana’s electoral management.
Political Parties and Ethical Technology Use
Safeguarding Ghana’s democratic integrity ultimately rests with its political parties. Building on the 2020 Peace Pact, a Digital Ethics Accord could commit parties to reject AI-generated videos, bots, and manipulated media during campaigns. Political leaders should also denounce disinformation by their supporters and promote transparency in digital advertising. If monitored by the Electoral Commission and civil society, such commitments could help sustain a fair and trustworthy online campaign environment.
Strengthening Fact-Checking Initiatives
Ghana already benefits from credible fact-checking groups such as Fact-Check Ghana, Dubawa Ghana, and GhanaFact, which have effectively debunked political and health-related misinformation in the past. To address the growing threat of deepfakes, these organisations could receive institutional and technical support to develop AI-powered verification tools similar to initiatives by Africa Check and PesaCheck elsewhere. Collaborative efforts with the European Commission and universities could also establish a national digital verification hub ahead of future elections.
Public Awareness and Media Literacy Campaigns
The most sustainable defence against AI-driven disinformation lies in strengthening digital literacy. The Ministry of Education, NCCE, and civil society groups such as Penplusbytes could integrate media literacy modules into secondary and tertiary education. Civic campaigns using radio, community forums, and influencers can also teach citizens to identify and report deepfakes. A similar initiative in Kenya, #ThinkBeforeYouShare, reduced youth sharing of misleading election content by 25%.
Collaboration with Global Tech Platforms
Major digital platforms such as Google, TikTok, X (Twitter), and Meta share responsibility for curbing harmful content. Ghanaian regulators and civil society can strengthen partnerships with these companies by seeking real-time data on flagged disinformation and advocating for local moderation teams familiar with Ghana’s languages and political context. Platforms like TikTok and YouTube began piloting AI transparency labels for verified media in 2024, a model Ghana could encourage locally. Regionally, Ghana could also champion the development of a West African Code of Practice for Online Elections under ECOWAS’s Digital Governance Division.
Policy recommendations
The following recommendations would ensure AI generated media are ethical and contribute to the democratic credentials of Ghana.
Draft Guidelines on AI Use in Political Campaigns
Clear guidelines for the moral application of AI, especially with regard to political messaging and campaign advertising, should be developed by the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Communications Authority (NCA), and the Data Protection Commission. These rules might mandate that AI-generated content be disclosed and penalise the use of deepfakes or other modified media to deceive voters. For instance, the AI Act of the European Union requires transparency for AI-generated content in political settings; Ghana may follow suit.
Strengthening Cybercrime and Data Protection Frameworks
The Electoral Commission of Ghana, the National Communications Authority, and the Data Protection Commission should introduce clear ethical guidelines on the use of AI in political communication. These should require disclosure of AI-generated content and impose penalties for deceptive deepfakes or manipulated media. Similar to the EU’s AI Act, Ghana could adopt transparency standards for political messaging. To reinforce this, the Data Protection Act (2012) and Cybersecurity Act (2020) should include provisions on AI-driven disinformation and algorithmic manipulation. Strengthening the Cyber Security Authority’s capacity to detect and counter AI-amplified threats, alongside regional cooperation on cross-border disinformation networks, will be essential for safeguarding digital integrity.
Support Civic Tech Organizations and Fact-Checking Initiatives
Provide funding and technical support to organisations such as Dubawa, GhanaFact, and Penplusbytes to develop AI-powered tools for detecting deepfakes and manipulated media. Encourage collaboration between universities and civic tech companies to create innovative election integrity solutions, such as digital traceability systems for political advertisements.
Invest in Voter Education and Digital Literacy
Integrate critical media analysis and digital literacy into the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) curricula, focusing on identifying AI-generated fakes and verifying online information. Ahead of the 2028 general election, collaborate with major platforms like Meta, X, and TikTok to roll out public awareness campaigns similar to the BBC’s “Check It Before You Share It” initiative in West Africa. To enhance impact, ensure these campaigns use local languages to reach rural and less digitally connected communities.
In conclusion, as Ghana approaches another important election, tackling deepfakes and AI-driven misinformation has become essential to safeguarding democracy. These technologies can easily distort voter perceptions and erode trust if left unchecked. Policymakers must lead in setting clear ethical and legal standards for AI use in politics, while the media and civil society intensify fact-checking and digital literacy efforts. Citizens, too, share the responsibility to think critically, verify before sharing, and uphold honesty online. AI holds great promise to strengthen transparency and civic participation, but without firm safeguards, it can just as easily fuel division. Now is the time to act to ensure AI becomes a force that protects, rather than endangers, Ghana’s democracy.
Short bio
Ebenezer Nana Yaw Obimpeh-Nipamua is a trained bioethicist and researcher based in Ghana. His work focuses on the ethical and governance dimensions of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence in health, education, and democracy.
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