African Media Leaders Launch Fund for Narrative Sovereignty

When African stories are told poorly, Africa stays undervalued in the eyes of the world, and media leaders are done accepting that reality.

The Africa News Agency brought together ministers, investors, filmmakers, and digital experts in Accra on April 29-30 for the second edition of Shaping the Future of African Media. Their mission: transform how Africa is seen globally by strengthening the continent's own media voices.

"If Africa is poorly told, Africa will continue to be undervalued," declared Dounia Ben Mohamed, CEO of Africa News Agency, opening the event. Her words set the tone for two days of serious discussion about narrative power as economic power.

Idrissa Diabira, Founder and CEO of SherpAfrica, drove the point home even harder. "Africa is not poor. It is undervalued," he told the audience, explaining how negative or incomplete stories directly affect investment, tourism, and global partnerships.

The event tackled urgent challenges facing African media today. Panels explored how international platforms and algorithms shape what stories get seen, how artificial intelligence could either empower or undermine African journalism, and how to train the next generation of media professionals who understand both technology and storytelling.

Former Ghanaian Minister Akwasi Opong-Fosu joined discussions alongside filmmakers, PR executives, and media founders. They all agreed that building Africa's narrative power requires resources, training, and independence from foreign platforms that often misrepresent the continent.

The Ripple Effect

The conference's biggest announcement could reshape African media for decades. Ben Mohamed revealed plans for a dedicated pan-African media fund launching in January 2027 in Dakar.

The fund will focus on three areas: helping media companies build sustainable business models, supporting digital and AI transitions, and training the next generation of African journalists and content creators. SherpAfrica will structure the fund to ensure it stays independent and sustainable long-term.

"We will begin mobilizing funding by calling on our Pan-African institutions, African champions and leaders to contribute," Ben Mohamed announced. Public, private, and pan-African institutions are being invited to support what organizers hope will become a stronger, more independent media ecosystem.

Africa News Agency itself shows what's possible. Founded in 2015, it now operates 11 offices across Africa and Europe with over 40 correspondents delivering news in French, English, and Arabic. The agency reaches more than 1 million views across its platforms and serves over 100 media partners.

The conference continues building momentum with masterclasses on April 30 focused on using AI strategically, developing high-performing media organizations, and mastering storytelling as a tool of influence. For a continent of 1.4 billion people whose stories have too often been told by outsiders, the message is clear: Africa is taking back the pen.