President John Dramani Mahama addressed Ghanaians in New York on Friday, September 25, 2026, lauding Channel One TV as an exemplar of responsible journalism. He underscored that traditional media organisations operate on a principle where journalists and their institutions shoulder responsibility for the information they disseminate.
Mahama noted that when a story carries a journalist’s byline, the reporter’s professional reputation is tied to the piece, and the media house assumes editorial responsibility. "If you see a story in Graphic, it has been well researched. The journalist whose byline is there has put his reputation behind it," he said, before citing Channel One TV as another instance of institutional accountability in Ghana’s media landscape.
He warned that the rapid democratisation of information, enabled by platforms like TikTok, has challenged the traditional media model. The president highlighted how these platforms allow anyone with a mobile phone to publish content directly to large audiences, bypassing established editorial structures. "Algorithms can repeatedly expose users to content similar to what they have previously watched," Mahama cautioned, raising concerns about information integrity.
The president also expressed unease over anonymous social media users who conceal their identities while posting insults and offensive material. While he welcomed open expression and criticism, he took issue with those who hide behind anonymous accounts to publish what he described as "the most vile things."
Mahama’s remarks place established media organisations such as Channel One TV within the broader debate over journalism, accountability and information integrity in an increasingly digital media environment. He concluded that a story coming from Channel One signals a commitment to reputation and responsibility.
