The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has urged stronger collaboration between journalists and digital infrastructure actors to ensure inclusive, accountable, and rights-based digital transformation across the continent.
Speaking at the 8th West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA 2025) in Accra, Braimah said the annual event continues to serve as a critical platform for journalists, policymakers, and media stakeholders to reflect on the evolving media landscape and the role of journalism in Africa’s development.
“Across the world, governments are focusing on digital IDs, digital payments, and data exchanges. But these efforts cannot succeed if citizens are unaware, uneducated, or excluded. That’s why journalists must highlight these issues and why digital public infrastructure enablers must see the media as partners in advancing this agenda,” he said.
This year’s conference was themed “Journalism and Digital Public Infrastructure in Africa.”
According to Braimah, the topic was chosen to emphasise how the continent’s growing digital ecosystem can only thrive when citizens are well-informed and their rights are protected throughout the process of digital innovation.
He explained that WAMECA, which has been held annually since 2017, is not just a gathering but a forum for knowledge sharing and collective progress.
“Once in a while, it’s important for us as a community to come together, reflect on emerging issues, and propose ideas for advancing journalism and the media business in West Africa,” he said.
Braimah reaffirmed MFWA’s continued commitment to press freedom and journalist safety, describing these as the foundation for sustainable media growth and democratic development.
“Journalists can only do their work well if they are free, safe, and have the skills and professionalism required to deliver effectively,” he added.
The three-day event featured high-level panel discussions, networking sessions, and policy dialogues and climaxed with the West Africa Media Excellence Awards on Saturday, 11th October, 2025, celebrating outstanding journalists whose work continues to strengthen accountability and democracy in the region.
Source: asaaseradio.com
