Food and shelter are two of humanity’s most fundamental needs, forming the foundation of Maslow’s hierarchy. Yet in today’s Ghana, both are becoming increasingly out of reach. Escalating food prices and rising housing costs have placed Accra among Africa’s most expensive cities.

Going a single day without food weakens the body; lacking shelter endangers one’s safety, particularly in an era of intensifying climate change. Against this backdrop, the weekend of 20 to 23 June 2025 proved especially significant.

In Accra, two major trade fairs were launched, each addressing one of these essential needs. The Multimedia Group Limited, through JoyNews, hosted the 16th edition of the Ecobank JoyNews Habitat Fair at the Achimota Retail Centre, offering housing solutions for Ghanaians.

Concurrently, Citi FM and Channel One TV, renowned for their high-impact public engagements, launched the inaugural Agrifair 2025 at Efua Sutherland Park, focusing on food systems and agricultural transformation.

To the casual observer, these may seem like just another round of expos. But in truth, they represent far more strategic, media-led interventions in response to two of the country’s most urgent socio-economic crises: food insecurity and the housing deficit.

These efforts are particularly commendable at a time when the government is working to curb food inflation through the Feed Ghana initiative and scale up affordable housing projects for citizens.

Importantly, both events drew considerable attention, not only from the general public but also from policymakers and government officials.

At Citi FM’s Agrifair, officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture took part actively. Similarly, the JoyNews Habitat Fair welcomed several dignitaries, including the Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui, who engaged with vendors, organisers, and attendees.

This is no coincidence. It signals a recognition by the state of the strategic value these media-led initiatives bring to Ghana’s broader development ambitions.

Allow me, therefore, to explore why these fairs matter and why the media houses behind them deserve special commendation—not only for their role in holding power to account but also for helping to shape Ghana’s path to inclusive development.

The first clinic of this year’s Ecobank JoyNews Habitat Fair assembled major stakeholders across Ghana’s housing value chain. Held at the upmarket Achimota Retail Centre, the fair offered services ranging from land acquisition, real estate development, construction tools, interior décor, plumbing, and water storage solutions, to home security systems and more.

From 20 to 22 June, dozens of exhibitors provided a one-stop shop for mortgage advice, housing finance, exclusive discounts, and live product demonstrations. The event enabled direct engagement between the public and some of Ghana’s most trusted real estate and housing brands.

Crucially, the fair created a collaborative space where industry players, aspiring homeowners, property investors, and regulators could come together to confront Ghana’s housing shortfall with practical, scalable solutions.

Exhibitors also enjoyed extensive media exposure across JoyNews television, radio, digital platforms, and social media channels, giving them a unique opportunity to position their offerings to a broad and relevant audience.

Meanwhile, Citi FM’s Agrifair 2025—organised under the theme “Feeding the Future: Innovation, Access and Sustainability in Ghana’s Agrifood Chain”—sought to reimagine agriculture as a dynamic, technology-driven, and investment-friendly sector.

The fair connected actors across the agrifood value chain, from smallholder farmers and agritech entrepreneurs to processors, exporters, financiers, and policy influencers. Highlights included B2B engagements, roundtable discussions, youth showcases, and exhibitions from women-led agribusinesses.

Agrifair tackled long-standing issues such as post-harvest losses, fragmented value chains, and low processing capacity. It championed technological adoption, promoted local sourcing, and called for enabling policies that can spur agro-industrialisation and food sovereignty.

Key partners included Agri‑Impact Limited, Yara Ghana, the Mastercard Foundation, Kosmos Innovation Centre, Absa Bank, MTN Business, GIRSAL, AMG Fertiliser, KOA Natural, and GBfoods—makers of Gino products. Strong government participation, especially from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, further validated the importance of the event.

These landmark events underscore how Ghana’s media landscape is evolving into a powerful driver of national development. Beyond merely reporting the news, media houses are now stepping into the arena of solution creation.

By hosting these fairs, Multimedia Group Limited and Citi FM/Channel One TV have redefined the traditional media role, transforming from passive observers to active development partners that bridge government policies, private sector innovation, and public engagement.

Such initiatives are also essential to the financial sustainability of media institutions. With traditional advertising revenue shrinking and emerging technologies disrupting consumption patterns, innovation is no longer optional; it is a necessity. Events like these offer alternative revenue streams, reduce dependence on politically sensitive funding, and help maintain editorial independence and integrity.

This is a clarion call to Ghana’s broader media and corporate community. The time for passive commentary has passed. The future belongs to those who contribute tangibly to development, beyond air-conditioned studios and newsroom desks.

Support the national transformation agenda. Create and lead initiatives that tackle real societal challenges. Let our platforms serve as launchpads for innovation and impact, not merely political soundbites.

The Fourth Estate must rise, not only as a critic, but also as a collaborator in nation-building.

To the Multimedia Group, Citi FM, and Channel One TV: your efforts are inspiring. You have shown that media can indeed build as well as broadcast.

This is journalism with foresight. This is media with a purpose. This is leadership for the future.

Bravo.

The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.