AIPS President Hails Ghana SWAG for Pioneering Partnership with Content Creators

On 24 November 2025 in Accra, AIPS President Gianni Merlo met with bloggers and content creators during a visit to Ghana, praising the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) for taking a groundbreaking step by formally integrating new-media creators into the national sports journalism structure. Merlo called the move “historic and transformative,” noting that Ghana is setting an example for Africa and the world.

Accompanied by SWAG President Kwabena Yeboah, Merlo held extensive discussions with the New Media Association of Ghana. He said that as sports storytelling becomes increasingly digital, embracing content creators is no longer optional but essential. This partnership marks the first time an AIPS member association has formally linked up with content creators, signaling a major shift in the global media landscape.

Merlo commended SWAG’s foresight in bridging traditional journalism with digital media. He stressed that the future of sports coverage depends on such collaboration and announced an immediate training initiative for the Ghanaian new-media group, aimed at strengthening their professional and ethical standards to ensure credible sports coverage.

“Ghana is showing the world the way forward,” Merlo said. “Digital storytelling is the present and the future. AIPS is not just applauding this vision—we are committed to supporting it. Africa is leading a crucial transformation in sports media.”

In recent years, AIPS has actively promoted the inclusion of sports bloggers and content creators in professional reporting structures and has developed guidelines to support collaboration, enhance reporting quality and create new opportunities.

The meeting was attended by the AIPS President, the SWAG President, the leadership of the New Media Association of Ghana and executives from both organisations.