Ghana’s online space has become both a land of opportunity and a minefield of danger.
From e-commerce, mobile banking to information dissemination and social media, technology now drives almost every aspect of daily life.
With the aid of computers, mobile phones, and smart devices, information of all kinds is accessible at the click of a button. Today, social media platforms such as Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram have redefined how news is shared, consumed and debated.
This is far from the era when newspapers, largely patronised by the elite, were bought from roadside vendors to keep up with current trends.
Worthy of note is that most newspaper distributors are out of business.
Newspaper patronage has been in steady decline for more than a decade, and circulation figures continue to fall sharply.
Advertising revenue, once the lifeblood of print journalism, has dropped drastically due to the proliferation of online platforms and digital media establishments.
Rising production costs, expensive printing materials, weak distribution systems, and low sales volumes have further worsened the situation.
Many print media houses have struggled to meet the technical demands of the new digital environment.
Limited investment capacity has made it difficult to train staff or retool operations for the digital age.
At the same time, audience behaviour has changed significantly, with readers increasingly consuming news online via mobile devices and well other radio and television receiving sets.
These combined factors explain the fragile state of Ghana’s newspaper industry today.
Aside from the digital disruption, some surviving newspapers have found it difficult to upscale, innovate, or adapt to changing market realities.
In this context, the growing influence of artificial intelligence has further complicated the media landscape.
It is therefore not surprising that the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana, PRINPAG, has publicly endorsed the President’s proposal for a National Media Development Fund.
PRINPAG believe such a fund could provide much-needed relief, especially for smaller publishers hardest hit by declining revenues and rising costs.
If implemented, the fund could be a game changer, an intervention that could help media houses raise capital, invest in innovation, train staff, and meet operational challenges.
Significantly, the fund could support the migration of newspapers to digital platforms, as seen in advanced economies where traditional print operations coexist with a strong online presence.
At this critical moment, government action is urgently needed. Beyond direct funding, tax waivers on printing materials and targeted support for newsroom training and digital infrastructure would significantly cushion the industry.
However, adaptation is not optional. Print media houses must deliberately diversify into digital journalism, invest in skills development, and rethink their business models if they are to remain relevant in an AI-driven media environment.
The emergence of digital media and artificial intelligence has placed unprecedented strain on newsrooms.
Public awareness of AI tools is growing, a clear indication that these technologies are here to stay.
Generative AI is gradually replacing or complementing some traditional newsroom functions, particularly as major search engines such as Google and Gemini roll out AI-generated search models and Search Generative Experiences, that provide direct answers to users.
Publishers are increasingly concerned about declining referral traffic as audiences consume AI-generated summaries instead of surfing news websites.
In the years ahead, rising print costs and weakened distribution networks may force more newspapers to halt daily print production altogether.
In the face of the challenges ahead, AI is making substantial inroads as a newsroom asset.
Radio, television, and online platforms are adopting AI for tasks ranging from data analysis and fact-checking to scriptwriting, video production, and headline optimisation.
In real newsroom scenarios, AI has helped speed up routine processes, allowing journalists to focus more on analysis, investigations, and storytelling.
In Ghana, the use of transcription tools such as TurboScribe, Descript, and Scribewave has become common practice, particularly among young journalists covering events.
These tools are often complemented by generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, which assist with research, editing, grammar checks, script refinement, and question formulation.
Importantly, this trend is not limited to younger reporters; veteran editors are also embracing AI as part of their workflow. Remember, AI tasks are information specific, so what you ask is what you get.
However, despite the opportunities AI presents, concerns about trust, intellectual property, and ethical standards remain valid. While AI can assist with investigations, verification, and content production, editorial responsibility must remain firmly in human hands.
Human editors must continue to decide what stories are covered, how they are framed, and whether they meet professional and ethical standards.
A major milestone in Ghana’s media evolution came in November when the Tobinco Media Group introduced the country’s first AI newscaster during the first anniversary of Bullet TV.
The AI anchor, nicknamed “Margaret Tobbin”, was designed to support, not replace human presenters.
The good news is that, such innovations are to ensure flexibility in the newsroom and not to push people out of jobs as perceived by many.
The new innovation will handle minor bulletins, especially when human presenters are unavailable or on location.
Similar innovations exist globally, including in Germany, where virtual journalists contribute a percentage of published content under strict editorial oversight.
Undoubtedly, these innovations mark the beginning of what we are to expect in the coming years.
The question, then, is whether Ghana’s media industry is ready for this digital revolution.
The answer lies in proactive adaptation. Media houses must fully embrace new technologies while maintaining editorial integrity and public trust.
In the same vein, government must strengthen ICT and digital governance laws to reflect emerging technologies, protect personal data, and ensure accountability.
Africa’s digital future cannot be shaped in isolation. As investments in broadband expansion and digital inclusion continue, no sector, including the media should be left behind.
Media houses should not only be users of technology but also contributors to shaping ethical AI principles that promote fairness, human rights, and innovation.
With artificial intelligence breaking barriers and reshaping journalism, the choice before Ghana’s media is clear.
The time to come to terms with this reality is now. Journalism’s future will depend not on resisting technology, but on using it responsibly to inform, educate, and serve the public interest. After all responsible journalism is what matters.
By Isaac Asare Owusu
