Africa News Agency Launches Pan-African Media Fund at Accra Conference

Media leaders and policymakers announced the launch of a fund dedicated to strengthening Pan-African media during an event in Accra, focusing on narrative sovereignty and economic power. Dounia Ben Mohamed, CEO of Africa News Agency, presented the initiative, which will prioritize the development of sustainable business models, support for digital and artificial intelligence transitions, and professional training programs for media professionals.

SherpAfrica, led by Idrissa Diabira, has been mandated to structure the fund and ensure its independence and long-term sustainability.

The announcement came at the second edition of Shaping the Future of African Media, organized by Africa News Agency on April 29 and 30, 2026, in Accra. AllAfrica reported that the event brought together media leaders, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, digital experts, communication professionals, and African creators.

Discussions centered on transforming African narratives into levers of economic power, global influence, and sovereignty.

Dounia Ben Mohamed opened the event and declared, 'If Africa is poorly told, Africa will continue to be undervalued,' before an audience of ministers, diplomats, media executives, and investors. Idrissa Diabira, founder and CEO of SherpAfrica, delivered a keynote address, stating that the battle over narratives has become both an economic and geopolitical battle.

He added, 'It is undervalued,' emphasizing the need to make African economic, cultural, and social realities visible to transform them into capital, influence, and power.

The event took place during a period of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and the growing influence of international digital platforms on global media. It highlighted the strategic role of African media in shaping the continent's image, strengthening its economic attractiveness, and reclaiming control over its narratives.

Panels on artificial intelligence included Christian Elongue, George Koffi Nkunu, Joseph-Albert Kuuire, and Promise Dugbatey, examining opportunities and risks related to digital sovereignty, information credibility, and technological dependency.

Discussions also featured Akwasi Opong-Fosu, former Minister of State of Ghana and Chairman of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre; Ekow Quandzie, Head of PR at Global Media Alliance; filmmaker and archivist Anita Afonu; and Hamadou Tidiane Sy, CEO of Ouestaf and Founder of E-jicom School.

The exchanges addressed narrative sovereignty, the economic impact of international perceptions of Africa, the role of digital platforms and algorithms, and challenges in the production, distribution, and financing of African content. Further talks focused on training the next generation of African media talent, stressing the need for professionals who combine technological innovation, local grounding, and a strategic understanding of influence dynamics.

A call for contributions has been launched to public, private, and Pan-African institutions. The official launch of the fund will take place during the next edition of Shaping the Future of African Media, scheduled for January 2027 in Dakar. The event continues on April 30, 2026, with masterclasses on building high-performing African media organisations, the strategic use of artificial intelligence, the training of future industry talent, and the mastery of storytelling as a tool of influence.

Africa News Agency, founded in 2015 by Dounia Ben Mohamed, is a pan-African news agency dedicated to delivering high-quality, real-time information on Africa's economic, political, and cultural developments. It has 11 offices across Africa and Europe, more than 40 correspondents across the continent, and over a hundred media partners.

AllAfrica reported that Africa News Agency distributes multilingual multimedia content in French, English, and Arabic.

In January 2026, it opened a new office in Accra, set to become its new headquarters following Kigali. The agency records more than 1 million views across its platforms. Africa News Agency also publishes ANAKids – News by Kids, for Kids, a platform dedicated to children and teenagers in more than twenty African languages.

ANA School is the first pan-African center dedicated to developing skills in media, audiovisual production, and strategic communication.