Let’s stop spreading fake news

 Dear Editor,

I have chanced on some articles on the internet suggesting that the Bank Of Ghana was planning to release five hundred cedis (GH¢500.00) coin.

I first saw the post on the whatsApp status of some contacts be­fore clicking weblinks which had an image of the supposed new coin. Somehow, my instincts told me the publica­tions were false but I guess some gullible per­sons took the articles hook, line, and sinker.

I had cause to ask some of my contacts whether they had verified the information they were sharing and subsequently advised them to delete the pic­tures from their status.

This phenomenon of posting unverified information has been with us for some time and we must do all it takes to discourage the practice.

I want to reiterate that though individuals are able to read and use their mobile phones to obtain information, it does not mean that any communication they receive is factual.

Mobile phone users must hasten slow­ly when it comes to forwarding or sharing whatever information they have as hundreds of fake news are gener­ated daily.

Inasmuch as I do not believe the Bank of Ghana would like to “transform” the Cedis’ highest denomination into coins, it would be appropriate for the regulator to issue a statement and clear the air on the matter as I am sure they might have seen some of the posts circulating.

Josephine Nyarko,

Tema.