British High Commissioner to Ghana, Christian Rogg, has cautioned that growing misinformation and organised disinformation campaigns pose a serious threat to Ghana’s media landscape despite the country’s improved standing on the global press freedom index.
Speaking at his residence in Accra on Wednesday during an event marking World Press Freedom Day, Mr Rogg praised Ghana for climbing 13 places on the latest World Press Freedom Index.
According to him, the new ranking places Ghana among the top four countries with the freest media environments in Africa, a development he said reflects the country’s longstanding democratic traditions and constitutional protections for free expression.
However, he warned that Ghana and other democracies are increasingly facing new pressures driven by rapid changes in the digital information space.
Mr Rogg noted that misinformation and disinformation continue to make societies more vulnerable, citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic when false information spread rapidly across borders and influenced public discourse.
He explained that while digital technology has transformed access to information and communication, it has also intensified threats against journalists and weakened public trust in the media.
The High Commissioner further warned that seemingly isolated incidents of false reporting can escalate into broader patterns capable of undermining democratic institutions, shrinking civic space and fuelling violence if left unchecked.
Referring to the conflict in Bawku, he said fake accounts and misleading narratives had contributed to heightened tensions in the area.
Mr Rogg also raised concerns about the growing sophistication of cross-border disinformation campaigns. He claimed that since 2022, Russia had sponsored dozens of documented disinformation operations across African countries, with West Africa emerging as the most targeted region.
Against this backdrop, he stressed the critical role of independent journalism in protecting information integrity and countering propaganda.
He concluded by emphasising that press freedom must be actively protected through sustained vigilance, cooperation and political commitment.
According to him, the observance of World Press Freedom Day should serve not only as a commemoration, but also as a renewed commitment to truth, accountability and the democratic principles sustained by a free press.
