In the heart of West Africa, the promise of democracy often collides with the harsh reality of hate speech and ethnocentrism. From Ghana to Nigeria, Senegal to Côte d’Ivoire, the rise in divisive rhetoric threatens not only peace but the very soul of democratic participation.
Hate Speech is defined as any form of communication that belittles or incites violence against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or nationality. Ethnocentrism, on the other hand, is the Belief in the superiority of one’s ethnic group, often leading to discrimination or exclusion of others.
In political campaigns and public discourse across West Africa, these elements are increasingly used as tools to consolidate power and discredit opponents.
In today’s edition of citizens, we shall critically analyze the impact of hate speech and ethnocentrism on democracy in the subregion and the continent at large. Our guests are Alhaji Oldman Sam Saryon, the chief law enforcement consultant and intelligence analyst with Global Strategic Solutions Incorporated, Monrovia, Liberia, and Dan Rakiya Bello, an international security analyst.
