President John Dramani Mahama has called on world leaders to unite in a global war against misinformation and disinformation, warning that the growing threat undermines democracy, security, and sustainable development.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the High-Level International Conference on Information Integrity and Independent Media in Paris, France, President Mahama described disinformation as one of the defining challenges of the modern era, capable of distorting elections, fuelling conflict, and weakening public trust in institutions.
“The time has come for all of us to translate our shared ideals into tangible action; to demonstrate genuine commitment to supporting public interest media and safeguarding the integrity of information. Together, we must win, and we will win, the global war against misinformation and disinformation,” he declared.
President Mahama stressed that information integrity is not merely a media concern, but a matter of national security, economic stability, and democratic survival. He cautioned that falsehoods continue to erode confidence in science, policy, and governance, particularly in the decade following the Paris Climate Accord.
He also highlighted the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the information landscape, noting that while AI offers immense opportunities for innovation, it also amplifies the risks of manipulation through deepfakes and synthetic media. He urged global cooperation to ensure that technology strengthens, rather than undermines, public trust.
Calling for a renewed commitment to protecting truth, President Mahama said the world must invest in independent journalism and public interest media as deliberately as it invests in infrastructure or defence.
“Independent journalism is not a luxury; it is a public good. When journalists can investigate freely, societies flourish. When truth is defended, peace is preserved. And when citizens can access reliable information, democracy endures,” he stated.
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The conference concluded with the endorsement of the Paris Declaration on Multilateral Action for Information Integrity and Independent Media, reaffirming a shared global commitment to defending truth and supporting independent journalism.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
