Campaigners Against Misinformation and Disinformation in Liberia (CAMDL) Executive Director, Taweh Johnson, participated in the Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel at Techpark in Praia, Cabo Verde. (September 3-5, 2025). UNESCO and the Government of Cabo Verde organized the conference with support from partners.
The conference focused on adopting a model policy framework to uphold information integrity, enhancing digital platform governance, protecting human rights, building resilience against disinformation, and fostering collaborative engagement for inclusive access to information in
West Africa and the Sahel. The regional policy framework for Information Integrity and Action Plan were officially adopted at the conference under the leadership of Cabo Verde and UNESCO with support from partners. These essential instruments now lead the way in building trust, strengthening social
cohesion, and advancing resilient digital ecosystems in West Africa and the Sahel.
CAMDL Executive Director, Taweh Johnson, shared how CAMDL is using media and digital literacy to enhance information integrity and encouraged individuals and organizations to join the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Alliance in order to strengthen information integrity. In addition, Taweh Johnson stated that CAMDL will collaborate with the Liberian
government and public and private institutions to craft a context-based Information Integrity Policy for Liberia using the adopted model policy on information integrity in West Africa and the Sahel. Furthermore, Taweh Johnson appreciated UNESCO, the UNESCO Regional Office in
Dakar and CFI- the French Media and Development Agency, for the support in enabling him to attend the conference.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Leonardo Santos Simão, reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) to continue cooperation with UNESCO and other partners in supporting regional states in the implementation of the adopted
Praia Policy Framework on Information Integrity.
Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, stated UNESCO’s readiness to support all members and stakeholders through technical support, capacity building, and the mobilization of international solidarity to enhance information
integrity in West Africa and the Sahel.
The Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, His Excellency José Ulisses Correia e Silva, mentioned that in the era of social networks and Artificial Intelligence, information integrity is more essential
than ever.
The Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism in Liberia, Daniel Sando, stated that information integrity is a challenge in Liberia. Moreover, Deputy Minister Sando stated that Liberia will establish an Information Integrity Working Group comprising fact-checkers, the media, and social media bloggers. The
Deputy Information Minister also highlighted the work of Campaigners Against Misinformation and Disinformation in Liberia and other fact-checking organizations in countering false information in Liberia despite having limited resources.
The conference gathered international partners, policy makers, government ministers, journalists, media regulators, information commissioners, content creators, fact-checkers, members of civil society, educators, and others from West Africa and the Sahel in Praia, Cabo Verde.
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