Felix Kwakye Ofosu: African Broadcasting Must Shape Change Not Be Shaped by It

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Keynote Address Delivered by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim on Behalf of Minister for Government Communications Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu at the Broadcast Convention West Africa 2026, Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, 22 September 2026

Minister for Government Communications Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu has declared that African broadcasting must shape technological change rather than be shaped by it. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim delivered his keynote address at the Broadcast Convention West Africa 2026 on Monday, September 22, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

The convention was organised by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and Broadcast Media Africa. The topic was “Reimagining African Broadcasting — Ownership, Trust and Sustainability in a Changing Media Ecosystem.”

The Audience Has Moved — Has Our Thinking Moved With It?

Hon. Kwakye Ofosu noted that African broadcasting now competes in a global media environment where digital platforms increasingly shape content discovery, audience data, and advertising revenue. He cited the National Communications Authority’s second-quarter 2026 records showing 571 operational FM stations and 124 television operators in Ghana.

Furthermore, he said a broadcaster can have a large audience and still struggle to monetise it. Therefore, he challenged every broadcaster to answer three fundamental questions: who is our audience, what distinctive value do we offer, and how do we retain a fair share of the value we create.

Trust Is the Infrastructure We Cannot Afford to Lose

Hon. Kwakye Ofosu stressed that trust is the one asset no technology provider can sell to a broadcaster. He warned that artificial intelligence can imitate a presenter’s voice and manipulated video can make a fabricated event appear real. Moreover, he said a broadcaster’s responsibility is not simply to repeat what is trending but to establish what is true.

He stressed that verification is not an obstacle to speed but what makes speed responsible. He also warned that content piracy and unauthorised restreaming undermine the revenue that supports further investment in journalism.

Five Priorities for the Future of African Broadcasting

Shamima Muslim delivered Hon. Kwakye Ofosu’s five practical priorities for West African broadcasters at the Broadcast Convention 2026. First, broadcasters must build responsible AI governance into their newsrooms with human editorial oversight. Second, sustainability must be made measurable through understanding energy costs and infrastructure requirements. Third, resilient hybrid distribution systems combining terrestrial, satellite, and digital networks must be built.

Fourth, African content must be made rights-ready and commercially viable through stronger rights management and better archives. Fifth, broadcasters must invest continuously in people and regional cooperation across West Africa to build stronger media partnerships across borders.