18/09/2026
WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION (GJA), MR. ALBERT KWABENA DWUMFOUR, AT THE OPENING OF THE FEDERATION OF AFRICAN JOURNALISTS (FAJ) STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
Fiesta Royal Hotel, Accra | 17 September 2026
The President and Leadership of the Federation of African Journalists, Mr Omar Faruk Osman;
The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu;
The Executive Chairman of KGL Group, Mr Alex Apau Dadey;
Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, former President of the Ghana Journalists Association and former President of the West African Journalists Association;
Members of the FAJ Steering Committee;
National Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association;
Representatives of affiliated journalists’ unions and associations;
Editors, media executives and fellow journalists;
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of honour that I welcome you all to Accra, Ghana, for this important meeting of the Steering Committee of the Federation of African Journalists.
On behalf of the Ghana Journalists Association, I extend our warmest greetings to the leadership and members of the Federation, and to all delegates who have travelled from across our continent to participate in this high-level meeting.
Akwaaba! You are most welcome to Ghana.
We are particularly grateful to the Federation for selecting Ghana as the host of this meeting. We regard this as not only an expression of confidence in the Ghana Journalists Association, but also a recognition of Ghana’s longstanding contribution to press freedom, democratic governance and professional journalism.
We are equally grateful to KGL Group for its generous support in organising this important meeting.
GHANA, DEMOCRACY AND THE MEDIA
Distinguished colleagues, Ghana is proud of its democratic journey, and the media has played a significant role in that journey.
Over the years, Ghanaian journalists and media institutions have contributed to public accountability, transparency and informed citizen participation in national affairs.
But we recognise that democracy cannot be sustained by elections alone. It requires strong institutions, informed citizens and a media environment in which journalists can operate freely, safely and responsibly.
For the Ghana Journalists Association, press freedom is therefore not merely a professional interest. It is a fundamental pillar of democratic society.
The GJA remains committed to protecting and promoting the right of journalists to gather, process and disseminate information in the public interest without fear, intimidation or undue interference.
At the same time, we recognise that press freedom comes with responsibility.
We must continue to promote journalism that upholds accuracy, fairness, independence, ethics and respect for the rights and dignity of all persons.
THE STATE OF AFRICAN JOURNALISM
Distinguished colleagues, the media landscape across Africa is undergoing profound change.
Journalists continue to face physical attacks, threats, harassment, arbitrary arrests and legal pressures in the course of their work. Media organisations are also dealing with difficult economic conditions that threaten their ability to sustain quality journalism.
These challenges demand that the safety and welfare of journalists remain at the centre of our collective agenda.
No journalist should have to choose between performing a professional duty and protecting their personal safety.
The GJA will continue to work with state institutions, media organisations, civil society and international partners to strengthen mechanisms for preventing attacks against journalists, responding rapidly when incidents occur, and ensuring accountability when violations occur.
But safety is only one part of the equation.
We must also address the economic and professional welfare of journalists. Decent working conditions, social protection, professional development and continuous training are essential if journalists are to remain independent and effective in serving the public.
An economically vulnerable journalist can become susceptible to pressures that compromise professional independence.
This is why the welfare of journalists must remain an integral part of the conversation about the future of African journalism.
TECHNOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM
Ladies and gentlemen, the digital transformation of the media has created enormous opportunities, but it has also introduced new challenges.
Misinformation, disinformation, online harassment, artificial intelligence and the changing economics of news are reshaping the profession.
Artificial intelligence, for instance, can improve research, production and access to information. But it also raises important questions about verification, ethics, intellectual property, accountability and the credibility of journalism.
Our response cannot simply be to resist change.
We must embrace innovation while ensuring that technology strengthens, rather than weakens, the fundamental values of journalism.
The journalist of the future must therefore be technologically capable while remaining firmly grounded in professional ethics, accuracy and the public interest.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FAJ AND AFRICAN SOLIDARITY
It is against this backdrop that the work of the Federation of African Journalists becomes particularly important.
The challenges confronting journalists in one African country can quickly become challenges for journalists elsewhere on the continent.
Our response must therefore be informed by solidarity, shared experience and coordinated advocacy.
FAJ provides an important platform for African journalists and their representative organisations to speak with a stronger collective voice on issues affecting the profession.
I wish to commend the leadership of the Federation for its sustained work in advancing the interests of journalists, defending press freedom and contributing to a stronger and more resilient African media community.
The GJA is proud to be part of this continental family, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with FAJ and its affiliates.
RENEWING THE GJA FOR THE FUTURE
Distinguished colleagues, as we discuss the future of African journalism, allow me to briefly share some of the steps the Ghana Journalists Association has taken to strengthen our own institution.
The GJA has embarked on a process of institutional renewal and digital transformation.
We have launched a new official website to improve communication with our members and the public and to provide easier access to information on our programmes, activities, training opportunities, membership and advocacy initiatives.
We are also using technology to modernise our operations. The new digital platform is already supporting the submission of entries for the 30th GJA Media Awards, which marks three decades of recognising excellence in Ghanaian journalism.
The 30th edition also reflects the changing nature of our profession, with new categories recognising economic and financial journalism as well as digital and new media platforms.
This is important because journalism is changing, and our institutions must change with it.
We have also taken steps to strengthen the governance structures of the GJA through the reconstitution of our statutory committees responsible for areas including membership, professional development, social affairs, international relations, and finance and resource mobilisation.
On journalist safety, the GJA has intensified stakeholder engagement. Earlier this year, we brought together key players from the media industry and other institutions to discuss safety standards, legal and medical support for assaulted journalists, accountability and safety training.
We have also demonstrated our willingness to intervene whenever journalists or media institutions come under threat.
Our interventions are guided by a simple principle:
Journalism must be protected, but journalism must also remain worthy of that protection.
That requires us to continuously raise professional standards and ensure that the media earns and maintains public trust.
Our work, however, is not complete.
Institutional renewal is a continuous process, and we intend to build an Association that is more responsive, digitally connected, professionally stronger and better positioned to serve journalists.
We do not want to preserve what previous generations built. We want to strengthen it, modernise it and hand over a stronger journalism profession to the next generation.
FROM DISCUSSION TO ACTION
Ladies and gentlemen, that spirit of renewal should also guide our deliberations over the next two days.
The agenda before the Steering Committee is significant. We will deliberate on press freedom, journalists’ safety and welfare, professional development, media sustainability, freedom of expression, ethical journalism and the future of the African media landscape.
We will also have the opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices, review ongoing FAJ programmes and decisions from previous engagements, and chart a forward-looking agenda for the Federation.
I encourage us to approach these discussions with openness, candour and a genuine commitment to solutions.
Let us examine what has worked in our respective countries.
Let us learn from our successes and shortcomings.
Let us identify practical strategies that can strengthen the protection of journalists, improve media sustainability and prepare our profession for technological change.
This meeting must not be another gathering where we discuss the challenges confronting African journalism and return home unchanged. It must be a platform for concrete decisions, stronger solidarity and collective action.
GHANA’S BID TO HOST THE 6TH FAJ CONFERENCE
Distinguished colleagues, another important matter before the Steering Committee is the selection of the host country for the 6th FAJ Conference.
Ghana is among the countries that have submitted bids to host the conference.
The Ghana Journalists Association fervently hopes that the Federation will give us the opportunity to welcome the wider FAJ family back to Ghana once again.
Such a conference would provide another valuable opportunity to deepen our collective commitment to press freedom, journalist safety and welfare, professional development, media sustainability and the strengthening of democratic institutions across our continent.
We assure the Federation of the GJA’s readiness to work closely with the FAJ leadership, our affiliates and all relevant stakeholders to make such a conference a successful and memorable continental gathering.
Whatever decision the Steering Committee takes, Ghana remains committed to the unity and advancement of African journalism.
BUILDING THE AFRICAN MEDIA WE WANT
Distinguished guests, if we are to build the African media we want, we must be prepared to invest in journalism.
We must invest in journalists.
We must invest in professional training.
We must invest in technology.
We must invest in sustainable media institutions.
And above all, we must invest in trust.
Credibility is one of the greatest assets of our profession.
At a time when virtually everyone can publish information, professional journalism must distinguish itself through verification, context, accountability and public-interest reporting.
Our responsibility is not merely to be first.
Our responsibility is to be accurate, fair, credible and accountable.
That is how we protect the relevance of journalism in an increasingly crowded information environment.
APPRECIATION
Let me once again express the profound appreciation of the Ghana Journalists Association to KGL Group for its enormous support in organising this meeting.
I also acknowledge and appreciate the presence of the Honourable Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu; our former GJA leaders; National Executives; representatives of journalists’ unions and associations; media executives; editors; journalists; and all distinguished guests.
To the President of FAJ, Mr Omar Faruk Osman, the members of the Steering Committee, and our colleagues from across Africa, we thank you for accepting our invitation and for making the journey to Accra.
We hope that, beyond the formal deliberations, you will also experience the warmth, hospitality and rich cultural heritage of Ghana.
CONCLUSION
Distinguished colleagues, the challenges confronting African journalism are significant, but so are the opportunities before us.
The future of our profession will depend on our willingness to work together, adapt to change and defend the principles that make journalism indispensable to democratic societies.
Let us therefore leave this meeting with renewed determination.
Let us strengthen our solidarity.
Let us defend press freedom.
Let us protect the safety and welfare of journalists.
Let us promote ethical and responsible journalism.
Let us embrace technology without surrendering our professional values.
And let us build media institutions that are independent, credible, sustainable and fit for the future.
The GJA is proud to host you here in Accra.
On behalf of the Ghana Journalists Association, I once again warmly welcome the Federation of African Journalists Steering Committee to Ghana.
We are honoured to host you, and we look forward to two days of meaningful engagement, honest conversations and practical outcomes for the advancement of African journalism.
I wish the Steering Committee fruitful deliberations and every success in its work.
Long live the Ghana Journalists Association.
Long live the Federation of African Journalists.
Long live African journalism.
Thank you, and God bless you all.
END
UNESCO IFJ - International Federation of Journalists
