President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will become the first African nation to make a financial contribution to the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) — a move he says demonstrates the country’s belief that reliable information is a global public good.
Speaking at the High-Level International Conference on Information Integrity and Independent Media in Paris, President Mahama said Ghana’s contribution underscores its conviction that independent journalism is essential for democracy and sustainable development.
“In addition, I am proud to declare that Ghana will become the first African country to make a financial contribution to the International Fund for Public Interest Media. This gesture reflects our conviction that independent journalism and reliable information are indispensable public goods,” President Mahama stated.
He urged world leaders to prioritize investment in truth and media integrity with the same seriousness given to infrastructure, energy, or defense.
“The message from this conference is unmistakable — that the world must invest in truth as deliberately as it invests in infrastructure, energy, or defence. The cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of commitment,” he said.
Highlighting the role of free press in democratic societies, President Mahama reaffirmed that independent journalism is a cornerstone of peace, justice, and accountability.
“As we close, let us be clear: independent journalism is not a luxury; it is a public good. When journalists can investigate freely, societies flourish. When truth is defended, peace is preserved. And when citizens can access reliable information, democracy endures,” he emphasized.
He concluded with a call for global unity to protect media integrity and transparency in an era dominated by artificial intelligence and misinformation.
“Together, through courage, cooperation, and conviction, we can ensure that truth prevails over falsehood and that the light of independent media continues to shine — for Ghana, for Africa, and for the world,” President Mahama said.
