The fight against hate speech, misinformation and disinformation requires ethical and trusted journalism, UK Deputy High Commissioner Chris Halliday has said at the launch of the 30th GJA Media Awards.
Speaking at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City on October 7, 2026, on the official theme “30th GJA Media Awards: Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age,” Mr. Halliday warned that AI is changing how stories are gathered, but misinformation spreads at extraordinary speed.
“The challenge facing journalists today is not that there is too little information. It is that there is too much. Artificial intelligence is creating exciting opportunities. New technologies are changing how stories are gathered, produced and shared. But misinformation, disinformation and foreign information manipulation can also spread at extraordinary speed. In that environment, trusted journalism becomes more important, not less,” he said.
He said the British High Commission and Netherlands Embassy earlier this year brought together journalists, fact-checkers, regulators and academics, concluding that maintaining public trust requires strong partnerships, strong institutions and strong journalism.
He cited Godwin Asediba, last year’s GJA Journalist of the Year who won the BBC Komla Dumor Award and joined the BBC, as an example of excellence the awards inspire.
Mr. Halliday announced the 4th edition of the MEET programme with Imperial College London next week for 30 Ghanaian journalists on science, technology and innovation reporting, critical for combating misinformation.
GJA President Albert Dwumfour said that while tools have changed, the fundamental responsibility remains: seek truth, verify information, be fair, provide context and protect credibility. He challenged journalists to choose “accuracy over haste, truth over convenience, courage over fear and integrity over influence.”
The GJA announced two new categories – New Media Platform Awards and Governor’s Economic and Financial Story of the Year Award supported by Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama – and thanked sponsors KGL Group, Kempinski Hotel and GBC.
The 30th GJA Media Awards ceremony is set for Saturday, November 7, 2026, in Accra.
By Robert Dela Mawuenyegah
