The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been called upon to lead a coordinated regional effort to ensure global technology companies fairly compensate local media organisations for news content shared on their platforms.
Sulemana Braimah, executive director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), made the appeal during a virtual PhD seminar organised by the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Ghana on February 13, 2026.
In a statement issued by the MFWA, Braimah said the ECOWAS Commission holds significant collective influence that has yet to be fully utilised. If strategically deployed, he argued, that leverage could help secure sustainable funding for news organisations across West Africa, many of which are struggling to remain viable.
Braimah proposed the adoption of a binding regional framework that would require digital platforms such as X, Facebook and TikTok to pay for the news content distributed and consumed through their services.
He said while individual countries in the sub-region often lack the negotiating power to confront multinational technology firms, a united front through ECOWAS would place West Africa in a stronger bargaining position.
Describing the current situation as an existential crisis for journalism, Braimah maintained that financial instability poses the most serious threat to the media sector. Although he acknowledged ongoing concerns such as attacks on journalists, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), digital disruptions and the misuse of cybercrime and national security laws, he stressed that economic vulnerability remains the core challenge.
He noted that advertising revenues have continued to decline, while efforts at digital monetisation have yet to deliver meaningful returns for many outlets. In several countries, he added, state advertising and other public funding streams have either stagnated or been withdrawn, leaving newsrooms weakened and investigative reporting capacity diminished.
According to Braimah, the idea of requiring technology companies to compensate news publishers is no longer speculative. He cited examples from Canada and other jurisdictions where regulatory frameworks have compelled global platforms to negotiate payment arrangements with media organisations.
Beyond platform payments, Braimah outlined a wider reform agenda to strengthen the region’s media ecosystem. He called for the decriminalisation of defamation and the repeal of vague “false news” laws that allow arbitrary prosecution.
He also urged governments to stop using cybercrime legislation against journalists, investigate and prosecute attacks on media workers, and avoid internet shutdowns and digital censorship.
In addition, Braimah emphasised the need to reinforce independent media regulation, encourage business model diversification and expand regional protection mechanisms for journalists.
He warned that without structural reforms and sustainable revenue models, West Africa risks a gradual erosion of independent journalism, with serious consequences for democratic governance in the region.
