By Amoako Kwame
Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has cautioned that the increasing spread of disinformation poses a major threat to Ghana’s democracy, national security, and public health.
Speaking at an event hosted at the residence of the British High Commissioner to commemorate World Press Freedom Day on May 6, he stated that the country was confronting an “information integrity” crisis driven by fake news, doctored content, and politically motivated misinformation.
“We now live in an age where a single falsehood can travel around the world in seconds while the truth is still putting on its shoes,” he stated.
He described coordinated disinformation campaigns, deepfakes, and clickbait falsehoods as dangerous instruments capable of fuelling political and ethnic tensions.
According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the spread of false information is eroding public trust, weakening state institutions, and putting democratic stability at risk.
“When people can no longer distinguish between truth and falsehood, confidence in institutions begins to decline,” he said.
“And once institutions are weakened, democracy itself becomes vulnerable.”
Felix Kwakye Ofosu emphasised that tackling disinformation should not involve censorship, warning that “censorship only fuels suspicion and pushes information into hidden spaces.”
He also noted that the government had intensified efforts to ensure the public receives prompt and reliable information through regular media briefings and official communication channels.
“That is why the government communication office that I lead has worked to proactively put out accurate information in a timely manner,” he said.
He further reiterated the administration’s dedication to upholding press freedom and protecting the rights of the media.
“Journalism is not the enemy of governments. Good journalism is actually an ally,” he stated.
