Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, Omar Faruk Osman
Ghana’s bid to host the 6th Conference of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) will come under consideration when the FAJ Steering Committee meets in Accra from September 17 to 18, 2026.
The two-day high-level meeting, to be hosted by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at the Fiesta Royal Hotel, will bring together leaders of journalists’ associations and media organisations from across Africa.
The Steering Committee will deliberate on the competing bids and decide which country will host the next FAJ Conference, with Ghana among the countries seeking to host the continental gathering.
Beyond the host-country decision, the meeting will consider major challenges confronting journalism in Africa, including attacks and threats against journalists, restrictions on press freedom, journalists’ safety and welfare, economic pressures on media organisations and the impact of rapidly changing technology.
The committee will also examine issues of freedom of expression, ethical journalism, professional development, media sustainability and the growing challenge of digital and information disorder.
According to the GJA, the meeting comes at a critical time for the media industry on the continent, requiring stronger collective strategies to protect the rights and welfare of journalists and promote press freedom.
It said the deliberations would also seek to strengthen continental solidarity and advocacy while enabling media leaders to share experiences and best practices.
The Steering Committee is expected to review ongoing FAJ programmes and decisions taken at previous engagements and develop a forward-looking agenda for the federation.
FAJ President, Omar Faruk Osman, is already in Accra engaging key stakeholders ahead of the meeting.
The opening session will bring together government officials, diplomatic partners, past GJA national executives, leaders of media associations, journalists, editors, media executives and other media practitioners, alongside members of the FAJ Steering Committee from various African countries.
The GJA said the gathering would also provide an opportunity to strengthen constructive engagement between governments, media institutions and journalists’ organisations in creating an environment in which journalists could work freely, safely and professionally.
It said Ghana’s hosting of the Steering Committee meeting reflected the country’s contribution to the advancement of press freedom, democratic governance and professional journalism on the continent.
A Daily Guide Report