Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has called for a collective effort to build a digital ecosystem rooted in trust and inclusion, with journalism playing a central role in ensuring accountability.
Speaking at the opening of the 8th West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA 2025), Mr. Braimah described Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as the “highway” for Africa’s future growth. He highlighted how digital IDs, payment systems and data exchange platforms are rapidly transforming economies across the continent.
“DPI can expand access to services, enable trade, empower small businesses and include millions who have been excluded from formal financial systems,” he noted.
However, he cautioned that without trust, transparency and respect for rights, these systems risk failing the very people they are meant to serve. “Trust for technology is built through transparency, scrutiny and through stories that make the invisible visible,” he said.
He emphasised that journalists are crucial partners in this process, not mere observers. “Journalism is a cornerstone of legitimacy, enabling citizens to participate fully in the digital ecosystem and to trust the systems that are shaping their lives,” he said.
Mr Braimah urged journalists to build their capacity on DPI issues and to play their watchdog role effectively. He also called on policymakers, technologists, and citizens to collaborate with the media in shaping digital infrastructure that safeguards human dignity and inclusion.
“We need a digital public infrastructure ecosystem that ensures dignity, ensures inclusion and builds trust,” he concluded, expressing confidence that the conference would generate bold ideas to advance Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
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