Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim has warned that misinformation, artificial intelligence and coordinated disinformation campaigns have emerged as some of the greatest threats confronting democracy in West Africa.

Speaking at the inaugural CJID Ghana Media Summit in Accra on Thursday, she said democracy is increasingly being contested on digital platforms rather than only in traditional political institutions.

Held under the theme "Defending Democracy in West Africa: The Role of Media," the summit brought together media leaders, civil society organisations, policymakers, academics, diplomats and development partners to discuss strengthening information integrity and democratic resilience across the region.

"The battlefield has changed. The weapons have changed, and the speed has also changed. But our mission remains the same—to defend the truth, protect public trust and ensure that facts, not falsehoods, continue to shape the future of our democracies," she said.

According to Ms Muslim, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and synthetic media has made the creation and spread of false information easier than ever before.

Citing the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2025, she noted that misinformation and disinformation have been ranked as the world's most severe short-term risk for the second consecutive year.

She also referenced the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025, which found that 73 per cent of respondents in Africa were concerned about distinguishing truthful information from falsehoods online—the highest level recorded globally.

Ms Muslim said the findings demonstrate that protecting information integrity has become essential to preserving democratic institutions.

"Without truth, there can be no informed citizens. Without informed citizens, there can be no meaningful democracy. And without democracy, there can be no sustainable development," she said.

She called for greater collaboration among governments, journalists, civil society and technology stakeholders to strengthen democratic resilience as the information landscape continues to evolve.

The CJID Ghana Media Summit also marked seven years of Dubawa Ghana's work in promoting fact-checking, media innovation and democratic accountability.