The Ghana Journalists Association has launched the 3rd African Media Convention (AMC), which is scheduled to take place in Accra, in May 2024.
The African Media Convention is currently the largest gathering of media stakeholders and policymakers on the continent.
The Convention, an initiative of The African Editors’ Forum (TAEF), is designed to safeguard the hard-won media freedoms and safety of journalists on the continent.
The maiden edition of the Convention was held in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2022.
The Convention will bring together media experts, scholars, students, journalists, journalists’ unions and associations, editors, public and private sector, including cooperating partners from around the African continent and beyond, as well as representatives from UNESCO and the African Union Commission.
The convention will comprise 600 international delegates and 400 delegates drawn from the African Union Commission, Governments, Media and Network Associations, Civil Society, the Diplomatic corps, NGOs, researchers and academia, and bilateral and international development partners, including the UN entities.
The launch also witnessed the inauguration of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 3rd African Media Convention.
The members of the LOC included; Fatimatu Abubakar, Deputy Minister for Information, Kweku Obeng Adjei, Ministry of Information, Media Relations Manager, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, Ghana Journalists Association President and Linda Asante Agyei, Ghana Journalists Association Vice President.
Others are Rebecca Ekpe Ghana Journalists Association Public Affairs Officer, UNESCO Ghana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Obed-Edom Yao Bedzra, Ministry of National Security Head of Accreditation and John Ekow Mensah State Protocol Department Deputy Chief State Protocol Officer.
Also, the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, Jeorge Wilson Kingson Private Newspapers & Online News Publishers Association of Ghana, Acting Executive Secretary, Muheeb Saeed Media Foundation for West Africa Programme Manager, Freedom of Expression, Rebecca Quaicoe-Duho Association of Women in the Media, Editors Forum Ghana, Alexander Bannerman, National Media Commission Deputy Executive Secretary and National Migration Service
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the conference will offer a refreshing platform that has the potential to change this narrative and lead us to work together to make significant impact in our industry on the continental level.
The hosting of the 3rd AMC in Ghana, the minister said, is a testament to Ghana’s deepening recording as one of Africa’s fast growing conference destinations.
“The convergence of Africa’s media elite should give us an opportunity to among others discuss how to promote a positive African narrative globally which will lead to attracting more positive interest in Africa”, the minister noted.
He urged members of journalist associations not just participate, but should take away lessons and implementable programs that can transform the practice of media work including journalism on the continent.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, who also took turn to address the gathering said, “this is an important opportunity for the international community to collectively reflect on these multidimensional challenges, the fundamental role of journalism and the transformative power that reliable information has to protect our planet, achieve sustainable development and consolidate democracies”.
Mr. Dwumfour explained that the conference will serve as a platform to assess and discuss the situation of the right to press freedom globally, identifying areas where journalists face repression, violence or censorship.
