Deputy presidential spokesperson urges African broadcasters to mix terrestrial, satellite and digital networks

Pinned summary · as of 07:19

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim has asked broadcasters in Africa to build distribution systems that blend terrestrial, satellite and digital networks, so that more people can get information. She was speaking at the 2026 Broadcasters Conference, whose theme was AI, cloud and the future of broadcasting.

What we know

• Ms Muslim spoke at the 2026 Broadcasters Conference, held under the theme "Conference on AI, Cloud and Future Broadcasting".
• She called for hybrid distribution systems that are resilient and draw on terrestrial, satellite and digital networks, so that underserved communities are not shut out of access to information.
• Ms Muslim said any move to new technology has to weigh affordability, infrastructure and audience access, rather than concentrating on the technology alone.
• She encouraged media organisations to look at sharing infrastructure to cut costs, arguing that the savings could be redirected to journalism, content development and innovation.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  According to OmanGhana, Ms Muslim said public trust rests on independent, credible journalism, and that the media should earn confidence through professionalism rather than readiness to back government positions. No other report carried this remark.
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  OmanGhana reported that she asked journalists to act "without fear or favour" and to stay accurate, fair and impartial. It added that she wanted government and media practitioners to engage more closely, with editorial independence intact. No other report carried this.
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  OmanGhana also reported that Ms Muslim pledged the government's backing for press freedom, and asked practitioners to observe ethical standards in the fight against misinformation. The report has not been repeated elsewhere.
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  TechFocus24 reported that she named resilient hybrid distribution as one of five practical priorities for African broadcasting and said the sector needs systems that are financially viable, technologically resilient and able to serve varied audiences; the other priorities were not reported.

Why it matters for Ghana

Many Ghanaian households, especially in rural districts, depend on radio and television signals that do not always reach them well, so decisions about how broadcasts are distributed affect who gets news. Shared infrastructure could lower costs for stations, though Ms Muslim did not give figures or a timetable. Her comments also show how the government wants to frame its relationship with the press.