Speed of information gives false claims chance to spread before facts catch up - Marietta Brew

Legal Advisor to the President, Marietta Brew, has cautioned that while information now travels faster and reaches further than at any time in history, the speed of dissemination also gives false claims the opportunity to spread before facts can catch up.

She said the development of digital platforms had transformed the way information was accessed and shared, making accurate and timely information increasingly important in efforts to build and sustain public trust.

"Information now travels faster and reaches further than at any time in our history but speed also gives false claims the chance to spread before facts catch up, " she said.

Brew observed at the 2026 Stakeholders’ Conference of the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) in Accra.

The conference, held under the theme, “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder,” brought together representatives from government and public institutions, civil society, the media, academia, development partners and other stakeholders.

Brew described the right to information as more than a legal entitlement, stressing that it was also a practical means of building public trust.

Her remarks came against the backdrop of growing concerns over misinformation, disinformation and manipulated content and their potential impact on public discourse and informed decision-making.

Executive Secretary of the RTI Commission, Genevieve Shirley Lartey, said the rapid growth of digital platforms had created new opportunities for citizens to access news, participate in public discourse and engage with institutions, but had also made it easier for false and manipulated information to spread rapidly.

She stressed that access to accurate, timely, reliable and verifiable information was essential to enabling citizens to make informed choices, participate meaningfully in public affairs and hold public institutions accountable.

According to Lartey, credible access to information also enables public institutions to communicate accurately, address information gaps and build lasting relationships of trust with citizens.

She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting, monitoring, protecting and enforcing the constitutional right of access to information under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).

Lartey said addressing information disorder required a shared responsibility among public institutions, the media, civil society and citizens.

Deputy Government Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, also stressed the responsibility of public institutions in ensuring access to credible information.

She said when public institutions hold the facts, they have a particular duty to make them accessible in accordance with the law.

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Muslim further urged institutions to correct false claims promptly, journalists to verify information before publishing and citizens to pause and verify information before sharing it.

The 2026 RTI Month is being observed throughout September and is expected to culminate in the commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information on September 28.

The Commission has been undertaking public education and media engagements as part of efforts to deepen understanding of the Right to Information Act and its role in promoting transparency, accountability, participation and good governance.

AM

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