Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams is set to attend the 8th Association of International Sports Press (AIPS) Africa Congress as a special guest, placing Ghana at the centre of a continent-wide debate on artificial intelligence and the future of sports journalism.
The congress will be held from February 6 to 9, 2026, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul Gambia, bringing together sports journalists, policymakers and industry leaders under the theme “Digital Media, AI, and Ethical Journalism in Africa.”
Adams is expected to engage discussions on the opportunities and risks presented by AI in African sports media, including whether emerging technologies can strengthen credible and ethical journalism or instead erode trust, widen the digital divide and marginalise local voices. His participation comes as African media organisations increasingly experiment with AI-driven tools such as automated news summaries, voice cloning and AI-generated video content.
The congress is expected to attract high-level participation, including Gambian President Adama Barrow, AIPS President Gianni Merlo, and sports ministers from Mali and Nigeria, underscoring the growing political and institutional interest in the transformation of sports media on the continent.
Organisers say the event will serve as a strategic platform to shape the future of African sports journalism, focusing on collaboration, capacity building and professional development. Sessions will examine how digital innovation can be harnessed to expand reach and efficiency while safeguarding editorial independence, ethical standards and cultural diversity.
As Africa accelerates its digital transformation, the AIPS Africa Congress is positioning itself as a forum to ensure technology enhances rather than undermines the integrity of sports journalism. The association has long advocated for the rights of sports journalists and the promotion of professionalism across the industry, and this year’s gathering is expected to sharpen that focus amid rapid technological change.
With AI adoption gaining pace across global media, the outcomes of the Banjul congress are likely to influence how African sports journalism balances innovation with trust, ethics and the preservation of local narratives in an increasingly automated media environment.
