EPIDEMIC By Abena Osegu Boateng

That there is an epidemic of fake news is not a doubt but there may not be any empirical evidence showing those who have elected this enterprise as an electoral tool.
Fact is that only those who know that real factual news does not work for them will embark upon this clearly disrespectful exercise.
It clearly amounts to impersonation which is a criminal offence in Ghana and in many parts of the civilized world.
The effects of this epidemic are damning. First, it creates conditions which shape people’s reality on fathom rather than an examination of concrete reality.
This whole exercise of deliberate deception has involved the creation of fake accounts on various social media platforms, sometimes using the names and photographs of known political, social, sports and entertainment icons.
It must be clear that these criminals are well educated and are ICT savvy. They also appear to be organized and properly resourced.
The material that this gang of criminals have unleashed on the Ghanaian population over the last few weeks may point to who they are.
First, they put out news that NDC leaders were so busily justifying the 24-hour economy strategy put out by former President John Dramani Mahama.
They deliberately made those justifications so stupid as to suggest that the strategy was an infantile dream.

They had one NDC leader saying that the introduction of the 24-hour economy will make it possible for people who want to eat fufu in the night to satisfy their appetite.
They have also published false news indicating that top leaders of the NDC are opposed to the renomination of Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemeng, as Vice Presidential candidate of the party on account of her region of origin.
Their creativeness hit an all-time peak, when they published a false news item claiming that Comrade Kwesi Pratt, Jnr has declared that the NDC is the worse political party in Ghana.
Interestingly, Comrade Pratt is a founding member of the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) which over the last three elections has not managed to secure even two percent of total votes cast.
What these guys are doing is criminal impersonation and is the Inspector- General of Police pretending that he is unaware of this?
What is the NDC itself doing to uncover those behind this criminal gang?
The operations of this gang is subversive of the effort to conduct free and fair elections and it must be brought to an end very quickly.
Perhaps, it may be important for regular media houses to publish only statements and from credible sources or they may risk taking the flak for the mischief of political hooligans.