President John Dramani Mahama has warned that the rapid and unregulated expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) poses a serious threat to global information integrity, cautioning that it could fuel misinformation and distort public discourse if left unchecked.
Speaking at the International Conference on Information Integrity in Paris, Mahama said AI-powered tools such as deepfakes and algorithmic manipulation are reshaping how people perceive truth, making it increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction.
“If we’re to build a sustainable planet, we must also build an informed public,” he said. “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.”
The Ghanaian leader emphasized the need for collective global action to ensure that technology serves humanity rather than undermines it.
“Deepfakes, synthetic media, and algorithmic manipulation are redefining what societies accept as truth. Our task is to harness AI responsibly, promote transparency, and ensure that progress strengthens public trust instead of eroding it,” he said.
Mahama urged world leaders to confront misinformation with the same urgency as other global crises such as security threats or economic instability, warning that inaction could have severe consequences.
“Disinformation is not an abstract issue — it shapes elections, distorts public health responses, fuels conflicts, and weakens the fight against climate change,” he said. “A decade after the Paris Accord, falsehood continues to erode confidence in science and policy.”
He also called for stronger support for independent journalism, describing it as the foundation of democracy and accountability.
“Independent journalism is not a luxury; it is a public good. When journalists can hold power to account, societies flourish. When truth is defended, peace is preserved, and when citizens can access reliable information, democracy endures.”
Concluding his address, Mahama urged nations to invest in truth with the same commitment given to infrastructure, energy, or defense.
“The message from this conference is clear: the world must invest in truth as deliberately as it invests in growth,” he said. “Let us leave Paris with a renewed determination to support journalists, demand transparency from digital and AI platforms, and strengthen global cooperation to protect information as a shared public asset.”
He ended with a quote from Nelson Mandela, saying, “A critical, independent, and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy.”
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