The Media Convergence Conference 2026 in Accra called for stronger collaboration among academia, industry players, policymakers, and technology experts to shape the future of media practice, education, and policy in Ghana.
The one-day conference, yesterday, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, under the theme “The Future of Media Practice, Education and Policy in Ghana”, seeks to examine the current state of the media industry and the rapid evolution of digital technologies that are transforming the sector.
The event, organized by the Africa Media Bureau, was designed as a thought-leadership and professional exchange platform bringing together faculties of Media and Communication Studies in Ghanaian tertiary institutions, alongside media industry leaders, regulators, technologists, and content creators.
The Executive Director of the Africa Media Bureau, Samuel Attah-Mensah, in his opening remarks, described the gathering at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel – Accra, as timely, noting that Ghana’s media landscape is undergoing a defining transformation.
He said traditional platforms such as radio, television, and print no longer operate independently, as digital technologies continue to reshape content production, distribution, audience behaviour, monetisation, and media education.
According to him, technology has changed the way stories are created, how audiences interact with content, and how media organisations sustain growth and relevance in an increasingly competitive environment.
Mr Attah-Mensah stressed that the conference was not merely about observing change, but about shaping the future of the media industry.
“It is about creating a space where academia and industry can come together to address pressing questions: Are we equipping the next generation of media professionals for the realities of the future? Are our regulatory frameworks evolving quickly enough? And how do we preserve ethics, credibility, and public trust as innovation accelerates?” he stated.
He further emphasised that the future of media depends on stronger partnerships between lecturers, editors, students, professionals, and policymakers.
Mr Attah-Mensah expressed confidence that the discussions would lead to practical recommendations, stronger partnerships, and lasting impact for Ghana’s media sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of ABN Holdings and Co-founder of the Africa Public Interest Media Initiative, George Twumasi, called for a bold transformation of Africa’s media industry, warning that traditional media models are fast losing relevance in the digital age.
He said the future of media on the continent would be shaped by declining audiences for legacy platforms, the growing dominance of foreign digital platforms, the slow adoption of automation, and resistance to innovation among some traditional media owners.
Mr Twumasi observed that young Africans are increasingly shifting away from radio, television, and print, noting that many people between the ages of 18 and 34 spend less than 12 minutes daily on traditional media, while devoting more than six hours to consuming and creating content on digital platforms.
According to him, the greatest challenge is that Africans are generating value on platforms they do not own, operating under rules they did not create, and earning revenues controlled by foreign companies.
He argued that Africa has become a supplier of content to global technology giants such as YouTube, Meta, Spotify, Netflix, and Google, while those companies control distribution channels, payment systems, user data, and advertising revenue.
Mr Twumasi stated that the solution lies not only in producing more content but in building African-owned infrastructure capable of distributing, monetising, and protecting local content and narratives.
He called for the creation of a mobile-first media ecosystem, explaining that mobile phones have become the main screen for news, entertainment, and communication across the continent.
Mr Twumasi added that African media organisations must embrace artificial intelligence, 5G connectivity, audience analytics, and hybrid revenue models to remain competitive in the evolving global media landscape.
The keynote speaker also highlighted the need for narrative sovereignty, stressing that Africa must take greater control of how its stories are told both locally and internationally.
He noted that foreign media institutions have historically shaped perceptions of the continent through negative stereotypes and external viewpoints.
Mr Twumasi further identified major barriers to growth, including high data costs, weak infrastructure, limited access to electricity in rural communities, outdated regulations, and a shortage of technology-driven media skills.
To overcome these challenges, he called for greater investment in the sector through African financial institutions, such as development banks and export finance agencies, arguing that the media should be recognised as a strategic pillar of democracy, development, and economic growth.
Mr Twumasi noted that many African media institutions were previously supported by foreign donors and international broadcasters, but said declining external funding has created an urgent need for homegrown solutions.
Describing the current moment as a turning point, he urged African governments, investors, universities, and private media operators to work together to build a sustainable, innovative, and independent media ecosystem for future generations.
Beyond examining current challenges, the conference also explores practical pathways for collaboration between academia and industry to ensure that media education remains relevant, skills-based, and responsive to technological disruption.
Participants discussed how to build a more inclusive and dynamic media ecosystem capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly changing digital era.
