President John Dramani Mahama has warned that the unchecked expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could fuel a new wave of global misinformation if not handled with responsibility and transparency.
Speaking at the International Conference on Information Integrity in Paris, President Mahama cautioned that emerging AI tools such as deepfakes and algorithmic manipulation are distorting public perception and reshaping global narratives, making it increasingly difficult for people to separate truth from falsehood.
“If we’re to build a sustainable planet, we must also make an informed public. Likewise, the dawn of artificial intelligence has transformed the information landscape.
“While AI offers immense opportunities for innovation, it also amplifies the risk of misinformation and economic disruption,” he said.
Mr. Mahama stressed that societies must act collectively to ensure AI serves humanity’s interests rather than undermines them.
“Deepfakes, synthetic media, and algorithmic manipulation are reshaping what our societies perceive to be the truth. Our collective task must therefore be to harness AI responsibly, to promote transparency, and to ensure that technological progress strengthens rather than undermines public trust,” he added.
Ghana’s president called for global leaders to treat misinformation with the same urgency as national security and economic development challenges, warning that the consequences of inaction could be dire.
“We must work to win the global war against misinformation and disinformation. We leave this conference reminded that disinformation is not an abstract issue. It is shaping elections, distorting public health response, fueling conflicts, and undermining the fight against climate change. A decade after the Paris Accord, falsehood continues to erode public confidence in science and policy,” he said.
He further urged nations to make deliberate investments in independent journalism, describing it as essential to sustaining democracy, accountability, and peace.
“Independent journalism is not a luxury; it is a public good. When journalists can hold their governments accountable, societies flourish. When truth is defended, peace is preserved, and when citizens can access reliable information, democracy endures,” he stated.
Mr. Mahama concluded his remarks by calling for a global commitment to defend truth and integrity in the digital age.
“The message from this conference is unmistakable: that the world must invest in truth as deliberately as it invests in infrastructure, in energy or defence. The cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of those commitments.
“And so, finally, let us leave Paris with a renewed determination to support journalists and institutions that stand for integrity and accountability, to demand transparency and ethical responsibility from digital and AI platforms, and to strengthen international cooperation to protect information as a shared global asset.
“In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, ‘A critical, independent, and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy.’ That conviction must guide us as we translate the outcomes of this conference into lasting global action,” he concluded.
