Ghana Becomes First African Country to Contribute to International Fund for Public Interest Media
Ghana will become the first African country to make a financial contribution to the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) — a move that underscores the country’s commitment to promoting press freedom, transparency, and the integrity of information.
Announcing the decision at the Paris Peace Forum, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama said the contribution demonstrates Ghana’s conviction that a free and independent media is vital to the survival of democracy and good governance.
“Ghana will become the first African country to make a financial contribution to the International Fund for Public Interest Media,” President Mahama declared.
“This reflects our conviction that independent journalism and reliable information are indispensable public goods.”
The President emphasized that the contribution is not only symbolic but represents Ghana’s determination to take tangible action in defending truth, sustaining trust, and supporting independent journalism worldwide.
“The time has come for all of us to translate our shared ideals into tangible action,” he stated.
“We must demonstrate genuine commitment to supporting public interest media and safeguarding the integrity of information.”
President Mahama noted that the fight against misinformation and disinformation has become one of the defining challenges of the modern era, warning that falsehoods are increasingly shaping elections, distorting public health responses, and undermining global efforts against climate change.
“Disinformation is not an abstract issue,” he cautioned. “It fuels conflict, erodes public confidence in science and governance, and weakens democracy itself.”
The Ghanaian leader reaffirmed his country’s steadfast dedication to transparency, accountability, and open governance, adding that Ghana’s leadership in supporting the International Fund sends a clear signal to the international community.
“Our landmark decision sends a clear message that Ghana remains steadfast in advancing the frontiers of freedom, upholding the rule of law, and serving as a nation that promotes democracy and good governance,” he said.
President Mahama’s announcement comes amid renewed global efforts to bolster independent media, with the IFPIM targeting €130 million between 2026 and 2028 to support journalism that serves the public interest.
He concluded by urging other nations to follow Ghana’s example in treating the defense of truth as a shared global responsibility.
“The world must invest in truth as deliberately as it invests in infrastructure, energy, or defense,” he asserted. “The cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of those commitments.”
