By: Nana Kwame Bediako
The African media convention opened in a wonderful way as it welcomed media personalities from the African continent and across the world at the Labadi Beach Hotel ahead of its massive 3rd edition in Ghana.
The media convention, which had its first edition in 2022 in Arusha, Tanzania, will officially take center stage in Ghana on May 16th at the Accra International Conference Centre.
High-profile dignitaries like Hon. Fatimatu Abubakar (Minister of Information Designate), Ms. Leslie Richer (Director of Information and Communication, African Union Commission) and Dr. Rita Bissoonauth (Director of the UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison) graced the event in some captivating fashion as they shared insightful and informative thoughts on the convention ahead of its official opening ceremony at the Conference Center.
In her speech, the Director of UNESCO, Adis Ababa Liaison, Dr. Rita Bissoonauth, who has been one of the forces behind this great initiative in mobilizing and growing the media system in Africa, delivered some educative insights during her submission. She urged all journalists, especially African journalists, to learn the act of collectivism, as that is a huge weapon in shaping the media space moving forward.
“UNESCO recognizes that the media’s goal is far beyond reporting news; it is about nourishing, informing, and engaging societies. It is about holding power to account, but most importantly, it is about shaping the future for responsible and innovative storytelling. This third convention offers us a unique platform to address the multi-fasting challenges and to collaborate to promote coverage that will enhance the resilience and sustainability of media in Africa”, she said.
She added that this year’s convention is set against the backdrop of a world seeking barriers between advancing technology and preserving the foundational elements of democratic societies, which are in line with UNESCO’s mandate of promoting freedom of expression and information.
Dr. Rita Bissoonauth, in her submission, also acknowledged the Ghana Journalist Association and the Ministry of Information for being instrumental in their efforts to push to host the 3rd edition of the African Media Convention.