The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) has opened its high-level Steering Committee Meeting in Accra, bringing together leaders of journalists’ unions and media associations from across Africa to deliberate on the future of journalism on the continent.
The two-day meeting, hosted by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at the Fiesta Royal Hotel from September 17 to 18, 2026, is being held with support from KGL Group.
The gathering comes at a time when African journalism is facing a combination of challenges, including attacks against journalists, restrictions on press freedom, digital and information disorder, declining media revenues and rapid technological change.
KGL Chairman: Africa Must Build Its Own Champions
Delivering the keynote address, Executive Chairman of KGL Group, Alex Apau Dadey, challenged African media organisations to broaden their approach to journalism and contribute to the development of sustainable indigenous businesses.
Mr Dadey said the continent’s ambition should extend beyond the traditional role of the media in holding power to account to include co-creation, innovation and the scaling of African enterprises.
“The mission before us is greater than corporate Ghana, corporate Africa, and the media. It is to build African champions,” he told delegates.
Mr Dadey also revealed a personal connection to Ghana’s journalism history, noting that his late father-in-law was the first Director of the Ghana Institute of Journalism and served as Press Secretary to Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
His remarks placed the discussions within the broader context of the media’s role in Africa’s economic and democratic development.
GJA President Demands Greater Protection for Journalists
GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour used the occasion to call for stronger measures to protect journalists and improve their welfare.
He stressed that a vibrant democracy requires a media that is able to operate freely and safely, while noting that journalists across the continent continue to face various forms of attacks and threats in the course of their work.
Mr Dwumfour reaffirmed the GJA’s commitment to working with the FAJ and other stakeholders to strengthen press freedom and safeguard journalists.
Key Issues on the Table
The Steering Committee is expected to deliberate on several issues central to the future of African journalism, including:
- Press freedom and freedom of expression
- Safety and welfare of journalists
- Professional development and ethical journalism
- Media sustainability and economic resilience
- Digital transformation and information disorder
- Emerging technologies and their impact on journalism
- Continental solidarity and advocacy for journalists
A major item on the agenda is the selection of a host country for the 6th FAJ Conference. Ghana is among the countries that have submitted bids to host the continental conference.
The meeting will also review ongoing FAJ programmes and develop a forward-looking agenda for the Federation.
A Strategic Moment for African Journalism
The Accra meeting provides an opportunity for African journalists’ organisations to move beyond responding to individual attacks or threats and consider collective strategies for strengthening the profession.
The discussions on journalist safety, media sustainability, technology and African ownership of media narratives and enterprises are particularly significant as newsrooms across the continent navigate profound changes in how journalism is produced, financed and consumed.
The opening session brought together government officials, diplomatic representatives, former GJA executives, media executives, editors and journalists.
The FAJ, the continental organisation representing journalists’ unions and associations affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), is expected to emerge from the two-day meeting with renewed strategies for defending journalists’ rights and strengthening the African media sector.
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