Africa-Press – Liberia. The Campaigners Against Misinformation and Disinformation in Liberia (CAMDL) has pledged to collaborate with the government, civil society, public and private institutions, media and information literacy professionals, as well as fact-checking organizations, to develop Liberia’s National Information Integrity Policy.
The announcement was made by CAMDL Executive Director Taweh Johnson at the Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, held September 3–5, 2025, in Praia, Cabo Verde.
The high-level gathering, hosted at Techpark in Praia, was organized by UNESCO and the Government of Cabo Verde, with the backing of several international partners. It brought together policymakers, academics, digital platform representatives, media leaders, and civil society actors to address one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age: how to protect societies from the harmful effects of disinformation while safeguarding democratic values and human rights.
The conference concluded with the adoption of the landmark Praia Policy Framework on Information Integrity and Action Plan, a regional framework that sets standards and strategies to uphold information integrity in West Africa and the Sahel.
The Framework will now guide member states in crafting national responses to protect citizens from misinformation and disinformation, strengthen trust in public institutions, and build more resilient digital ecosystems.
“Liberia must not be left behind,” Johnson declared. “The fight against misinformation and disinformation is a fight for our democracy, our peace, and our human rights.
CAMDL will collaborate with the Liberian government, public institutions, and private sector actors, civil society to craft a context-based Information Integrity Policy for Liberia, rooted in the Praia model.”
Johnson explained that CAMDL has already been active through media and digital literacy initiatives, but he stressed that Liberia needs a structured national policy that will institutionalize standards, accountability, and coordination across sectors.
“Digital literacy programs are crucial, but they cannot work in isolation,” he said. “A national policy will ensure that our collective efforts—from government to schools, media, and civil society—are coordinated, measurable, and effective.”
Johnson also encouraged Liberians to embrace global networks. “We are urging individuals and organizations in Liberia to join the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Alliance. This alliance strengthens collaboration, provides resources, and amplifies our capacity to counter false information in real time.”
According to the concept note that guided the Praia conference, the rapid digital transformation across Africa has created both opportunities and vulnerabilities. Internet use has grown exponentially—from 719 million users in 2003 to more than 5.4 billion in 2023. While this expansion has boosted access to information, education, and economic opportunities, it has also fueled the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, often amplified by algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI).
These challenges pose risks to electoral integrity, public health, social cohesion, and national security. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, saw a surge of health-related misinformation that cost lives, while recent elections in several West African states were marred by false narratives and manipulated content.
The Praia Policy Framework was therefore adopted as a human rights-based, contextually relevant, and actionable model policy for the region. Its goals include strengthening digital platform governance to address harmful content, promoting digital literacy among vulnerable populations, and fostering sustained collaboration among stakeholders such as governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
The adoption of the Framework drew strong commitments from international partners.
Dr. Leonardo Santos Simão, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, emphasized the UN’s role in implementation. “UNOWAS stands ready to continue cooperating with UNESCO and other partners to support states in implementing the Praia Policy Framework on Information Integrity,” he assured delegates.
Similarly, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, highlighted the organization’s readiness to assist member states.
“UNESCO is fully prepared to provide technical assistance, capacity building, and mobilize international solidarity to enhance information integrity in the region,” he said.
The Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, José Ulisses Correia e Silva, captured the urgency of the moment. “In the era of social networks and Artificial Intelligence, information integrity is more essential than ever,” he stressed. “Our democracies, our peace, and our social fabric depend on it.”
For Liberia, CAMDL’s pledge marks the beginning of a process that could transform the way the nation addresses misinformation, disinformation and digital governance. Johnson said CAMDL will immediately begin consultations with the Liberian government, Parliament, Public and Private institutions, civil society, Media and Information Literacy Professionals and fact-checkers using the Praia model as a foundation.
“The adoption of the Praia Policy Framework provides us with a regionally accepted model,” he explained. “We will adapt it to Liberia’s context, considering our unique political, cultural, and technological realities. Our aim is to deliver a policy that not only protects our information space but also promotes human rights, transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment.”
Taweh Johnson praised UNESCO, the UNESCO Regional Office in Dakar, and CFI – the French Media Development Agency, for enabling his participation in the conference. He also called on development partners to support Liberia in building the technical capacity and infrastructure required for effective policy implementation.
The broader ambition of the Praia conference was to build trust, resilience, and social cohesion in an age when information itself is under threat. Delegates discussed how disinformation not only undermines democratic governance but also fuels polarization, weakens public trust in institutions, and in some cases, incites violence.
The expected outcomes of the conference include the establishment of mechanisms for multi-stakeholder engagement, enhanced access to reliable information, stronger governance of digital platforms, and new initiatives to empower children, youth, women, and marginalized groups with digital skills.
Experts agreed that information integrity is not just a technical issue but a human rights imperative.
The framework emphasizes freedom of expression, access to information, and protection of privacy, ensuring that efforts to combat disinformation do not become tools for censorship.
By committing to work along with the Government, Press Union of Liberia, Civil Society, Public and Private Institutions, Fact-checking organizations to craft Liberia’s first National Information Integrity Policy, CAMDL has positioned the country to join a historic wave of reforms sweeping across the region. For a nation emerging from years of fragility, such a policy could help protect democracy, improve governance, and strengthen the rule of law.
As Johnson concluded his participation at the conference in Praia: “This is not just about fighting fake news. It is about protecting our democracy, safeguarding our peace, and ensuring that every Liberian has access to accurate and reliable information. We cannot afford to be passive. Liberia must act, and we are ready to lead the way.”
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