By Princetta Williams, Information Attaché, SLHC Accra
His Excellency the High Commissioner of Sierra Leone in Accra, Ghana, Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, last week attended the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards hosted by the Media Foundation for West Africa.
The conference brought together journalists from both the print and electronic media from different countries in the West African region.
Its opening ceremony was held at the Alisa Hotel, with representatives from the diplomatic and consular corps, the Government, partners, participants, and guests all in attendance.
Delivering his welcome address, Sulemani Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, heartily welcomed everyone to what he described as the biggest convening for reflections about journalism and media in West Africa and beyond.
He said the event has been held at a time when the continent is experiencing the digital revolution by actively building and reshaping this revolution.
According to him, the Media Foundation for West Africa works in ensuring great journalism is practised and with professionalism.
He cautioned his colleague journalists that technology must be accompanied by trust, transparency, inclusion, confidentiality, and human rights.
“Quality journalism is crucial in ensuring that digital networks are fair, rights-respecting, and responsible,” he added
The Deputy Communication Minister of Ghana, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, extolled the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) for hosting a platform that brings together media specialists, policymakers, and citizens to discuss the future of journalism and media in West Africa.
He said technology alone is insufficient and must serve people, protect their rights, and bridge divides.
Journalists play a vital role in this process, empowering citizens to understand and question new technologies.
He highlighted that a strong, free, and ethical media is essential for digital democracy, ensuring technology remains a servant, not a master.
A total of 793 entries from about 600 media organisations in the West African region were received for this year’s awards from fifteen (15) countries.
Among them were Sierra Leonean Patricia Sia Ngevao of Awoko Publications SL Ltd and Alfred Koroma of the Concord Times Newspaper.
.
