The Legal Advisor to the President of Ghana, Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, has called on the media to strengthen its fact-checking practices to help combat information disorder in the digital age. She emphasized that journalists and media organisations have a responsibility to verify information before publishing, particularly as many people assume that information circulated through the media and social media is accurate.
Ms Brew, who is also a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, stressed that the media must ensure that information published is properly checked to prevent false or misleading content from spreading rapidly and undermining public trust. She made these remarks at the 2026 Stakeholders’ Conference organised by the Right to Information (RTI) Commission in Accra on September 24, representing the President.
The conference aimed to move beyond general discussions on misinformation, disinformation, and other forms of information disorder to examine practical, legislative, and institutional measures under Ghana’s Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989). The theme, “Upholding information integrity in the digital age: The role of access to information in addressing information disorder,” focused on effective implementation of the RTI law to bridge information gaps and strengthen public confidence in credible sources.
Ms Brew stated that the speed at which information spreads online makes it crucial for journalists to verify facts before publishing to prevent misinforming the public. She urged journalists to verify their sources and exercise caution when reporting information obtained from social media and other digital platforms. The media, she said, has a duty to provide the public with accurate and verified information to enable citizens to make informed decisions.
The Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, echoed the government's commitment to providing information in a timely manner, as delays in releasing public information could create a vacuum that misinformation could fill. She urged public institutions to take responsibility for responding to Right to Information (RTI) requests and to clearly explain the reasons whenever information could not lawfully be disclosed.
The Board Chairman of the RTI Commission, Dr James Kwaku Asante, emphasized that access to accurate and credible information from public institutions is critical to helping citizens distinguish facts from falsehoods in the digital age. He called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, the media, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector, development partners, and citizens to strengthen openness, transparency, and responsible information sharing.
Key stakeholders, including the media, educators, civil society organisations, and digital practitioners, are expected to collaborate to help the public recognise manipulation while preserving legitimate debate and dissent. The government's stance on media scrutiny and the importance of fact-checking will continue to shape the conversation around information integrity in Ghana.
Key points
- The media must strengthen fact-checking practices to combat information disorder.
- The government is committed to providing information in a timely manner to prevent misinformation.
- Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial to promoting information integrity in Ghana.
