Accra Hosts Successful 3rd African Media Convention

By Osman Abubakari-Sadiq 

The 3rd African Media Convention, the largest gathering of media stakeholders and policymakers on the continent, concluded successfully in Accra, Ghana. The convention, which took place from May 15-17, 2024, was hosted by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Information with the African Union (AU), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Internation Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) as major partners.  

The convention brought together over 1000 participants, including policymakers, Ministers of State, researchers, academics, and media practitioners from across the continent. The event was designed to safeguard the hard-won media freedoms and safety of journalists while reflecting on the achievements made so far. 

Keynote addresses and panel discussions focused on the state of the media in Africa and the impact of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence on new media. Case studies were presented, highlighting innovative ideas for sustainability and growth in the news industry. 

The convention also served as a platform to discuss journalism in the face of the environmental crisis in Africa. The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo–Addo in closing the convention urged the media to use their platforms to highlight and share stories on environmental crisis, adding that the media is powerful in telling the African story and changing the narrative on climate change which the region is bearing the brunt even though it contributes less to the problem.   

The 3rd African Media Convention has set a new dawn for Africa’s media, surfacing the best practices of the fast-evolving news industry through a uniquely African lens. The convention has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the media landscape in Africa, and the insights gained will shape the future of journalism on the continent. 

The annual African Media Convention is a collaborative effort supported by the African media stakeholders, to reflect on the fundamental role of journalism on the continent, celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and deliberate on measures to safeguard media freedoms and promote access to information, the safety of journalists and media viability in AU Member States. 

The AMC was conceived in 2021 by the East African Editors Forum, UNESCO Liaison Office to AU and UNECA and UNESCO National Office in Da-es salaam. It emerged out of a growing need to engage with all the African media stakeholders in addressing the unique challenges and opportunities facing media in the digital age. Recognizing the critical role of a free and vibrant press on the continent, the inaugural AMC was convened in 2022 in Arusha, Tanzania, bringing together media stakeholders from across Africa and the African Union Commission. 

AMC has emerged as a pivotal forum for advancing media freedom, innovation, and sustainability across the African continent. Stemming from the esteemed World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3rd, the convention serves as a nexus for journalists, editors, policymakers, academics, civil society, and media development partners to convene and deliberate on pertinent issues shaping the media landscape in AU Member States. With a rich history rooted in safeguarding press freedom and journalistic integrity, the AMC has evolved into a beacon of collaboration and capacity-building, rotating across African countries to address evolving challenges and opportunities in the digital era.