The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has called on journalists to hold digital systems accountable to ensure Africa’s rapid technological revolution remains fair, inclusive, and respectful of human rights.
Executive Director of MFWA, Mr. Sulemana Braimah, made the call at the opening of the 8th West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) in Accra, Ghana. The three-day event was themed “Journalism and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Africa.”
Braimah said journalism must play a critical watchdog role as Africa builds digital public infrastructure such as digital IDs, interoperable payment systems, and data exchange platforms — which he described as the “highway upon which Africa’s next chapter of growth will travel.”
He, however, warned that without rigorous reporting, the continent risked building systems that were efficient but not equitable, powerful but not accountable.
“No matter how sophisticated a piece of technology is, it cannot drive development if it is not accompanied by trust, transparency, inclusion, and privacy — the fundamentals of human rights,” he said.
To strengthen this watchdog role, Braimah announced that MFWA had partnered with Co-Develop and other funders to run a DPI journalism fellowship across West Africa, training 65 journalists from 10 countries — including Nigeria — who have so far produced 376 investigative stories on DPI rollouts and governance.
Akua Owusu-Darko, Senior Investment Associate at Co-Develop, described digital infrastructure as the new public good, stressing that how it is built, governed, and used will shape Africa’s socioeconomic future.
She urged media and development partners to support reporting that ensures digital systems are inclusive, people-centric, and grounded in human rights, noting that fellowship outputs have already influenced conversations on birth registration, data protection, and digital tax policies across the region.
Also speaking, Ebenezer Asiedu, Head of Democracy and Good Governance Division at ECOWAS, highlighted ongoing cross-border initiatives such as a West African biometric identity and efforts to make mobile communication more affordable across member states.
He emphasised that public trust and awareness are crucial for digital systems to serve regional citizens rather than deepen exclusion.
Representing Ghana’s Ministry of Communications, Deputy Minister Mohammed Sukparu said technology must serve people and protect rights, quoting UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ view that “technology can be a force for good only when it broadens opportunity.”
“A strong, free, and ethical media remains the bedrock of digital democracy,” Sukparu added.
The conference, which brought together journalists, technologists, policymakers, and development partners such as Co-Develop and DW, will conclude with an awards ceremony recognising outstanding reporting that promotes transparency and inclusion in Africa’s digital transformation.
