Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for the creation of a pan-African media powerhouse to unite the continent and reshape Africa’s narrative on the global stage.
Speaking at the Broadcasting at the Crossroads Forum, hosted by the Africa Media Bureau in Accra on Friday, September 26, the former President emphasised the urgent need for Africans to tell their own stories, stories that reflect the continent’s true identity, challenges, and potential.
Kufuor envisioned Accra as a potential hub for such a powerful media network that would transcend regional and linguistic barriers to foster cultural exchange, continental integration, and shared progress.
“If the professional media people will find a way to establish a powerful media agency, say here in Accra, very African, to tell African stories, not just political, it could be economic, it could be social, it could be entertainment, it could be trade, it could be industry.
I tell you, before you know it, the African in Nigeria, Nairobi, or South Africa, we would do better,” he said.
According to Kufuor, Africa is still largely defined by external media, leaving its image shaped by narratives that do not originate from within the continent.
“Poor Africa so far has tended to be defined from outside. We are seeking our identity,” he remarked. “For instance, now we are forming things like AfCFTA, but it tends to be just talk, talk… But then digitalisation, global technology, they are evading us.”
He also raised concerns about Africa’s limited ownership of digital platforms, despite the growing reach of technology.
“We talk platforms. How many of the platforms are managed and driven by us?” he questioned.
Kufuor further highlighted lingering colonial-era divisions, particularly language barriers, which he said continue to hinder continental unity.
“We still are locked into the blinkers of colonialism. We are Anglophone, my cousin in Côte d’Ivoire is Francophone, the next person is Lusophone, we do not know ourselves,” he said.
He underscored how this disconnect affects collaboration among African nations:
“You stop the person in Accra and you want to discuss something in Nigeria, you’d be lucky if this person knows anything.”
Kufuor urged African media professionals to take the lead in driving unity through storytelling, positioning the continent to define itself and control its narrative in the digital age.
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