Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to press freedom while warning that deliberate misinformation and fake news will not be tolerated.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the 2nd Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) World Press Freedom Day Honours Night at the Alisa Hotel in North Ridge on Saturday, June 6, 2026, the minister said the spread of false information poses a serious threat to national stability and public trust.
Addressing journalists, diplomats, media owners and civil society representatives, Sam George stressed that the Mahama administration remains committed to protecting media freedom and encouraging investigative journalism.
He noted, however, that some content circulated on traditional and digital media platforms is intentionally designed to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension.
“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 claims that measures aimed at combating misinformation amount to censorship, arguing that legal and regulatory frameworks are necessary to safeguard public 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,” he stated.
Despite his warning, Sam George maintained that the government remains open to criticism and scrutiny from the media, describing such engagement as an essential part of democratic governance.
According to him, no journalist has been forced into exile, arbitrarily detained, or had a media organisation shut down for exposing wrongdoing under the current administration.
“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,” he said of President Mahama.
The minister also highlighted Ghana’s progress on the global press freedom landscape, revealing that the country has moved from 52nd to 39th position on the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.
He attributed the improvement partly to efforts to expand digital access and strengthen internet freedom, describing the internet as a critical tool for modern 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.
Sam George further called on media owners and industry leaders to improve the welfare of journalists, noting that poor working conditions can undermine professional standards and leave practitioners vulnerable to undue influence.
He added that the government is exploring long-term initiatives aimed at supporting a financially sustainable and independent media sector capable of promoting ethical journalism and serving the public interest.
