The 48th Session of the Committee on Information (COI)

Dr Winnifred Nafisa Mahama
Acting Director of Ghana’s
Information Services Department
Conference Room 2, UNHQ
April 27th, 2026, New York

Chairperson,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

Ghana aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and thanks the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications for her briefing.
The global information space is under growing pressure. Misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, amplified by artificial intelligence, are eroding trust, fuelling division and undermining peace and security.

Ghana calls for a shift from commitments to concrete action. We welcome the United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity and stress the need for their effective implementation, supported by targeted capacity-building for developing countries.
The digital divide remains a major barrier. Unequal access to information continues to exclude many from global discourse. Bridging this gap is essential for inclusive participation. This requires sustained investment not only in digital infrastructure, but also in traditional platforms such as radio and community media, which remain vital in many contexts.

Chairperson,
Multilingualism is central to accessibility, inclusion and trust. We encourage the responsible and human rights-based use of artificial intelligence to expand access to information across diverse linguistic communities.
We also underscore the importance of media and information literacy in strengthening resilience against misinformation.
Ghana emphasises the need to protect journalists and media professionals, whose role in upholding transparency and accountability is indispensable.

We further recognise the critical role of the Department of Global Communications and United Nations Information Centres in delivering credible and multilingual information at the country level, and call for strengthened support to enhance their impact.
In conclusion, Ghana reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation in building a more inclusive, equitable and resilient global information environment.

Thank you.