Gov’t Warns Against Rising Misinformation, Calls for Stronger Journalistic Standards

Government has urged media practitioners to uphold the highest professional standards, warning that the growing spread of misinformation and disinformation poses a serious threat to national stability and democratic governance.

Delivering a speech on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the GJA World Press Freedom Day 2026 Honours Night in Accra, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said while press freedom remains fully protected, it must be exercised with responsibility and integrity.

He cautioned that the rapid circulation of unverified content—particularly on digital and social media platforms—has dangerously blurred the line between credible journalism and propaganda.

“In the age of social media and algorithmic amplification, the line between journalism and misinformation has never been thinner. A false report can ignite communal tensions. Fabricated statistics can undermine public health campaigns,” he said.

According to him, not everything published or broadcast today qualifies as journalism.

“Some of what circulates on our airwaves and digital platforms is deliberate falsehood, designed to inflame rather than inform.”

Samuel Nartey George stressed that although press freedom is a constitutional right, it does not exempt media practitioners or content creators from accountability—especially when national security and public order are at stake.

“Press freedom does not mean freedom from accountability. It does not shield those who masquerade as journalists to advance agendas of destruction.”

He called on the Ghana Journalists Association and media houses to strengthen internal regulatory systems, including fact‑checking units, editorial oversight, and strict adherence to professional codes of ethics.

Maintaining credibility, he noted, is essential to sustaining Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s stronger media environments and protecting the gains made in global press freedom rankings.

The Minister also underscored the importance of regulatory frameworks, emphasising that they are not designed to suppress journalism but to ensure accuracy, order, and responsibility in public communication.

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to constructive engagement with the media while safeguarding the public from harmful and misleading content circulating in the digital space.

The call comes amid growing concerns about the impact of misinformation on public discourse, particularly on social media where unverified reports often spread rapidly without editorial checks.

The GJA Honours Night brought together journalists, media executives and government officials to mark World Press Freedom Day and celebrate the contributions of Ghanaian journalists to democratic development.

— CitiNewsRoom