'Africa must own its story' — AfriComms Africa launches summit in Accra to reclaim continent’s narrative

• Communication experts, academics, diplomats, journalists, and creatives gathered in Accra for the inaugural Communicating Africa Summit organised by AfriComms Africa.

• Speakers called for Africans to take ownership of the continent’s stories and challenge negative stereotypes often portrayed in global media.

• Public figures including Joyce Aryee and Okyeame Kwame stressed the need for authentic African storytelling rooted in culture, innovation, and resilience.

Organised by Africans Communicating Africa (AfriComms Africa), the summit brought together stakeholders from different sectors to discuss the growing need for Africans to take greater control of the continent’s narratives rather than relying on portrayals shaped by foreign perspectives.

A major theme running through the event was the concern that Africa’s image in international media has long been dominated by stories centred on poverty, conflict, disease, and political instability, often overlooking the continent’s achievements, innovation, creativity, and cultural influence.

Speaking on the theme “Owning the African Narrative,” Audrey Gadzekpo of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Ghana described the summit as an important step towards repositioning Africa within global communication systems.

According to her, reducing Africa to a single negative story distorts the continent’s reality and affects international perceptions, investment opportunities, and policy engagement.

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Prof. Gadzekpo also highlighted concerns about the rapid growth of artificial intelligence in global communication, warning that emerging technologies could reinforce harmful biases if African voices and data are excluded from their development.

Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, Joyce Aryee, described the summit as the beginning of a broader movement aimed at restoring Africa’s voice and dignity in global discourse.

“Africa’s story should be told by Africans,” she stated, urging communicators and policymakers to project a more balanced image of the continent that reflects both its challenges and its strengths.

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Communications advocate Togbe Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyeman V also stressed the strategic importance of communication, arguing that storytelling directly influences investment, governance, policy direction, and national development.

Meanwhile, communications strategist Georgina Asare Fiagbenu emphasised the growing role of digital platforms in shaping perceptions about Africa globally.

She encouraged African communicators to collaborate more intentionally across borders and use digital media to amplify stories of innovation, resilience, entrepreneurship, and opportunity.

International communication strategist Vil Commey described AfriComms Africa as more than just a conference platform, insisting it should evolve into a long-term movement capable of driving measurable change in how Africa is perceived internationally.

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One of the summit’s most passionate contributions came from Ghanaian musician and activist Okyeame Kwame, who argued that Africa’s storytelling challenge goes beyond foreign misrepresentation and also involves internal attitudes shaped by colonial history.

He urged Africans to reconnect with their cultural identity and challenge inherited beliefs that portray African traditions and systems as inferior.

The summit is expected to become an ongoing platform that encourages collaboration among African communicators while promoting authentic African stories across global media and digital platforms.