The Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, has opened the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) in Accra, calling for greater accountability, transparency, and ethics in Africa’s digital transformation.
Speaking on behalf of the Sector Minister, Samuel Nartey George, Sukparu commended the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) for hosting what he described as a vital platform that “brings together media professionals, policymakers, and citizens to discuss the future of journalism and media in West Africa.”
This year’s conference, themed “Journalism and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Africa,” focused on the intersection of technology, governance, and media responsibility. Sukparu said the theme “resonated deeply,” noting that while digital systems are reshaping public life, they must be built on trust and human-centered values.
He cited Ghana’s progress in establishing digital public infrastructure such as the Ghana Card, mobile money interoperability, and the Ghana.gov platform, noting that these systems have improved public service delivery and financial inclusion.
“Technology alone is insufficient and must serve people, protect their rights, and bridge divides,” Sukparu said. “Journalists play a vital role in this process, empowering citizens to understand and question new technologies.”
He added that “a strong, free, and ethical media is essential for digital democracy, ensuring technology remains a servant, not a master.”
Echoing these sentiments, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Mr. Sulemana Braimah, underscored the growing importance of DPI systems, describing them as the “foundation of modern economies.” He cautioned, however, that “technology must be accompanied by trust, transparency, inclusion, privacy, and human rights,” adding that “quality journalism is crucial in ensuring that digital ecosystems are fair, rights-respecting, and accountable.”
Mr. Ebenezer Asiedu, Head of Division for Democracy and Good Governance at ECOWAS, also commended the MFWA for sustaining WAMECA and reaffirmed the regional body’s partnership with the organization. He highlighted ongoing ECOWAS initiatives, including the West Africa Unique Identification Program and the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, which, he said, aim to “connect people and economies across the region.”
The 2025 WAMECA continues through the weekend, bringing together journalists, policymakers, and civil society representatives to discuss how the media can safeguard rights and accountability in Africa’s fast-evolving digital landscape.
