The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has cautioned that while the Mahama administration remains committed to protecting press freedom, it will not tolerate the deliberate spread of false information disguised as journalism.

Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the 2nd Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) World Press Freedom Day Honours Night held at the Alisa Hotel in North Ridge on Saturday, June 6, 2026, the minister said fake news and coordinated disinformation pose a danger to national stability and public trust.

Addressing journalists, diplomats, media owners, and civil society actors, Sam George stressed that the government has no intention of silencing critical voices or investigative reporting, insisting that democratic leadership must accommodate scrutiny and opposing views.

Sam George warns of cultural impact of foreign digital content

However, he warned that the state would firmly respond to individuals and platforms intentionally spreading fabricated stories capable of creating panic, division, and confusion.

“Let us be honest with ourselves: 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. This is not journalism, but a threat to the public good. The state has the right and responsibility to address it,” he said.

The minister rejected suggestions that tighter regulation of misinformation amounts to censorship, arguing that every democracy requires rules to maintain order and protect citizens from harmful content.

“The regulatory and legal frameworks in this country are not instruments of censorship. They are instruments of order. A responsible government must enforce them, proportionately and transparently, when the national interest demands it,” the minister insisted.

Despite the strong warning on fake news, Sam George painted a picture of an administration comfortable with media criticism, noting that no journalist has been forced into exile, arbitrarily detained, or had a media house shut down for exposing wrongdoing under the current government.

According to him, President Mahama views criticism as part of democratic governance rather than a threat to political authority.

“Instead, he responds with the quiet confidence of a leader who knows that criticism is the price of democratic leadership. A government that fears scrutiny is a government that has reason to hide. We are not such a government,” George stated.

The minister also highlighted Ghana’s improved performance in the global press freedom rankings, revealing that the country had climbed from 52nd to 39th position on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index.

He attributed the progress partly to efforts to expand digital infrastructure and internet access across the country, describing the internet as a modern tool for democratic participation.

“The internet is today’s printing press. Just as freedom of the press was hard won through centuries of sacrifice, digital freedom must be actively protected and deliberately promoted,” he said.

Beyond legal protections, Sam George urged media leaders to pay closer attention to the welfare of journalists, warning that poor working conditions leave many practitioners vulnerable to influence and compromise.

He indicated that the government is exploring long-term measures to help build a financially stable and independent media industry capable of sustaining ethical journalism.

NA/BAI

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