By Benjamin Adamafio Commey
Accra, June 7, GNA – Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, has called for stronger collaboration between the Government, media organisations and journalists to combat the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation while safeguarding press freedom.
He said the rapid evolution of digital technologies and social media platforms had created unprecedented opportunities for information sharing but had also blurred the lines between journalism, propaganda and deliberate falsehoods.
“Not everything published or broadcast in Ghana today is journalism. Some of what circulates on our airwaves and digital platforms is deliberate falsehood designed to inflame rather than inform, to create fear where there should be calm, division where there should be dialogue, and panic where there should be measured analysis,” he said.
Mr George made the call on Saturday evening in Accra when he addressed the Second Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) World Press Freedom Day Honours Night.
The event brought together journalists, media owners, policymakers, development partners and civil society organisations to celebrate media freedom and honour veteran journalists for their contributions to Ghana’s democratic development.
The Minister stressed that while the Government remained firmly committed to media freedom and freedom of expression, press freedom must be exercised responsibly and ethically.
Mr George said misinformation and disinformation posed significant risks to national security, social cohesion and democratic governance, warning that press freedom did not mean freedom from accountability, and it did not shield those who masqueraded as journalists to advance agendas of destruction.
“A false report can ignite communal tensions. Fabricated statistics can undermine public health campaigns. Deliberate disinformation can compromise national security and erode the very democratic institutions that give journalists their freedom to operate,” he noted.
The Minister, therefore, urged the GJA and media organisations to intensify investments in fact-checking, editorial standards and professional development, particularly for younger journalists entering the profession.
“The credibility of Ghanaian journalism, the credibility that earns this country its enviable press freedom ranking, was not built on rumour or sensationalism. It was built on truth and it must be defended with truth,” he said.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to maintaining a free and independent media environment, describing a free press as “a pillar” of governance, human rights and sustainable development.
Journalists under the current administration had the right to pursue the truth wherever it led, Mr George said, and assured the media fraternity that the State would not stand in their way.
He highlighted Ghana’s recent progress in global media freedom rankings, noting that the country had risen to 39th position out of 180 countries in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, from 52nd in 2025 and 62nd in 2023.
He described the achievement as evidence of Ghana’s culture of openness and democratic resilience and pledged the Government’s commitment to protecting and deepening those gains.
“A government that fears scrutiny is a government that has reasons to hide. We are not such a government,” he said.
On legislative reforms, Mr George disclosed that Section 78 of the Electronic Communications Act, which criminalised certain forms of communication, had been removed in the revised bill currently under consideration.
He said the government had undertaken extensive consultations with stakeholders, including the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the National Media Commission, on the proposed Information Integrity and Digital Communications Legislation.
Touching on the future of journalism, the Minister described the internet as “today’s printing press” and stressed the need to protect digital freedoms alongside traditional press freedoms.
“Our investments in broadband infrastructure and digital literacy are not merely economic decisions. They are democratic ones because a connected citizenry with access to quality information is the foundation of a well-functioning democracy,” he said.
Mr George called on journalists, government institutions and citizens to work together to preserve media freedom, promote information integrity and strengthen democratic governance.
“Truth requires courageous journalists who will ask difficult questions, challenge convenient narratives and stand firm in the face of pressure. It requires media institutions committed to independence and excellence. It requires a government willing to accept scrutiny as a condition of its legitimacy,” he noted.
“Let our media freedom be a beacon that lights up development, strengthens human rights and secures our national future.”
Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, underscored the importance of protecting press freedom and freedom of expression, warning that any attempt to intimidate, harass, arrest or suppress journalists for carrying out their constitutional duties amounted to an attack on Ghana’s Constitution itself.
He described the media as a critical instrument for promoting peace and democratic stability, noting that history had shown the devastating consequences when media platforms were used to spread hatred and division.
Citing the 1994 Rwanda genocide, Mr Afenyo-Markin said irresponsible media practices could have grave consequences for society, emphasising that journalism must be guided by truth, accuracy and public responsibility, urging media practitioners to reject sensationalism and misinformation.
“It is not enough to be first; one must be right. It is not enough to attract attention; one must earn trust,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also called on journalists, editors and broadcasters to consciously embrace their role as agents of peace by prioritising facts, context and balanced reporting, adding that public confidence in the media depended on the profession’s commitment to integrity and ethical standards.
He expressed concern over what he described as “growing threats to free expression,” alleging that laws relating to false information and offensive conduct were increasingly being applied against political commentators and opposition figures.
He argued that the use of arrests, detentions and prosecutions in response to political speech risked creating a “chilling effect” that could discourage public participation in democratic discourse and lead to self-censorship among journalists and citizens.
The Minority Leader, therefore, called on state institutions, including the Attorney-General’s Department and prosecutorial authorities, to exercise their powers fairly, impartially and in accordance with constitutional principles.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) and some distinguished institutions and individuals were honoured for their contributions to press freedom, media development and national progress.
The recognition of the Ghana News Agency highlighted its long-standing role in providing credible and timely news, and its contribution to strengthening democratic governance through reliable information dissemination.
The event was on the theme: “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security.”
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Benjamin Adamafio Commey