“Ghana will become the first African country to make a financial contribution to the International Fund for Public Interest Media,” President Mahama said. “This gesture reflects our conviction that independent journalism and reliable information are indispensable public goods.”

Mr Mahama also announced that Ghana had formally decided to become a full member of the International Partnership for Information and Democracy.

He said the decision had been officially communicated through diplomatic channels as part of Ghana’s efforts to promote transparency, accountability and open governance.

“Our landmark decision sends a clear message to the international community that Ghana remains steadfast in advancing the frontiers of freedom, upholding the rule of law and promoting good governance,” he stated.

The Paris conference was co-hosted by the Republic of France, the International Fund for Public Interest Media, and the Forum on Information and Democracy.

It brought together heads of state, civil society groups, journalists and policy experts to address the growing challenge of disinformation and the loss of public trust in information sources.

Mr Mahama said the conference had produced practical results, including endorsement of the Paris Declaration on Multilateral Action for Information Integrity and Independent Media.

The declaration commits governments to strengthen independent and pluralistic information systems and to mobilise €130 million between 2026 and 2028 to support public interest media around the world.

The president warned that disinformation was no longer a distant concern but a real threat influencing elections, distorting public health responses, fuelling conflicts and undermining climate action.

He said artificial intelligence, while offering opportunities, had also “amplified the risk of misinformation and economic disruption.”

“Our collective task must therefore be to use AI responsibly, promote transparency and make sure that technological progress builds, not breaks, public trust,” he said.

Ending his address, President Mahama urged world leaders to “invest in truth as deliberately as we invest in infrastructure, in energy or defence,” stressing that independent journalism was central to democracy, peace and sustainable development.

“When journalists can hold their governments accountable, societies flourish. When truth is defended, peace is preserved. And when citizens have access to reliable information, democracy endures,” he said.