Misinformation and Fake News: ECOWAS Trains Sierra Leone Journalists on Information integrity and MIL.

By Raymond Enoch

In a decisive move to tackle the rising threat of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation across West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has kicked off a two-day intensive training for journalists and media practitioners in armed Siera Leone. The workshop, which began on 25 September 2025, is aimed at strengthening information integrity and equipping media professionals with the tools needed to detect false narratives and promote democratic values.

Spearheaded by the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Communication and organised in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the initiative enjoys support from the Government of Germany. It focuses on enhancing Media and Information Literacy (MIL) among journalists, empowering them to identify misinformation networks, report conflicts with sensitivity, and reinforce good governance through accurate and responsible journalism.

Speaking on behalf of ECOWAS President, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, the organisation’s Resident Representative in Sierra Leone, H.E. Ambassador John Azumah, officially opened the workshop. In his remarks, Ambassador Azumah described the training as a clear demonstration of ECOWAS’ enduring commitment to help Member States and the regional media landscape confront the challenge of weaponised information.

“This effort underscores our collective responsibility to protect the integrity of public information and uphold the values of democracy, peace, and security in West Africa,” he said.

The training which is being held in Freetown from 25 to 26 September, 2025 marks another critical step in ECOWAS’ broader regional strategy to build media resilience and curb the spread of destabilising content, especially in politically sensitive periods. Participants are expected to leave the workshop better prepared to counter disinformation tactics and contribute meaningfully to informed civic discourse.

With the proliferation of digital platforms and the rapid spread of unverified content, ECOWAS’ investment in media capacity is being hailed as both timely and strategic. As the region grapples with complex political transitions and security challenges, the role of accurate, ethical journalism has never been more pivotal.