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The Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has urged media owners and managers to invest in training programmes that would equip journalists with the necessary skills to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) effectively in their work.
According to her, embracing AI would significantly enhance efficiency and audience engagement, provided it was skillfully applied and balanced with ethical considerations.
Underscoring the relevance of integrating AI into journalism practices, she stressed that it was essential for media organisations to remain competitive in the digital age.
The minister was speaking at a commemorative lecture in Accra on Thursday, marking the 75th anniversary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
The event was held under the theme ‘75 Years of Excellence in Journalism: Honouring the Past, Embracing the Present, and Shaping the Future.’
Ms Abubakar reiterated the importance of training and educating journalists to adapt to new technologies.
“Adapting to new technologies is essential for media organisations to remain competitive, starting with comprehensive education,” she noted.
While acknowledging the benefits of AI, Ms Abubakar also highlighted the challenges it could pose, particularly concerning ethical standards.
She stressed the need to balance innovation with responsibility to ensure AI’s positive contribution to journalism.
“The effectiveness of AI depends on how skillfully it is applied. Ongoing education is crucial to uphold high professional standards,” she stressed.
She further reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the media through initiatives like the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme, which aims to equip journalists with essential skills and resources.
She also lauded the partnership between her outfit and media organisations like the GJA, saying the crucial role of journalists in bridging the gap between the government and the public should not be underrated.
In his remarks, the President of GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, described the occasion as a “momentous day in the history of the GJA.”
Celebrating the association’s significant role in championing media freedom and contributing to Ghana’s national development since its inception 75 years ago, he said was very important.
He noted that the GJA has been at the forefront of the fight for Ghana’s independence and has continued to defend media freedom and the welfare of journalists, often in the face of oppression and persecution.
Mr Dwumfour also touched on the relevance of AI in the modern media landscape, noting its potential to create new opportunities for production, dissemination, and consumption of information across the continent.
AI, he said has huge prospects for African media.
He therefore called on African media firms to embrace AI while maintaining high ethical standards in journalism.
“As an association, we will continue to ensure that media practitioners abide by the ethics of the profession. We will continue to name and shame unprofessional practitioners and reward deserving journalists,” Mr Dwumfour said.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
