By: Edzorna Francis Mensah
The President Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to officially open the ongoing 3rd African Media Convention in Ghana, Accra, where hundreds Journalists, media owners, bloggers, academia and related professional across the continent have converged to deliberate on media freedom, media and digitalization.
The annual African Media Convention is a collaborative effort supported by the African media stakeholders, to reflect on the fundamental role of journalism on the continent, celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and deliberate on measures to safeguard media freedoms and promote access to information, the safety of journalists and media viability in AU Member States.
The 3rd African Media Convention is under the theme: “Enhancing Freedom, innovation, and Environmental Sustainability in a Dynamic Media Landscape” begins in Ghana, Accra.
The 3-Day convention slated for May 15, 2024 – May 17, 2024, kicked off at the Labadi Beach Hotel on May 15 with plenary discussions on several topics on how to enhance media freedom for sustenance.
The official ceremony and the rest of the programme will commence on May 16 at Accra International Conference center Accra.
The AMC was conceived in 2021 by the Eastern Africa Editors Forum, UNESCO Liaison Office to AU and UNECA and UNESCO National Office in Da-es salaam. It emerged out of a growing need to engage with all the African media stakeholders in addressing the unique challenges and opportunities facing media in the digital age.
Recognizing the critical role of a free and vibrant press on the continent, the inaugural AMC was convened in 2022 in Arusha, Tanzania, bringing together media stakeholders from across Africa and the African Union Commission. In 2003, the 2nd AMC was held in Lusaka Zambia.
AMC has emerged as a pivotal forum for advancing media freedom, innovation, and sustainability across the African continent. Stemming from the esteemed World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3rd, the convention serves as a nexus for journalists, editors, policymakers, academics, civil society and media development partners to convene and deliberate on pertinent issues shaping the media landscape in AU Member States.
With a rich history rooted in safeguarding press freedom and journalistic integrity, the AMC has evolved into a beacon of collaboration and capacity building, rotating across African countries to address evolving challenges and opportunities in the digital era.
