Thirty journalists from across Ghana have completed a three-day training in investigative and anti-corruption reporting, aimed at building the next generation of watchdog reporters.
The training was organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) under its Countering Corruption through Accountability Journalism and Improved Freedom of Expression project, with support from GIZ Ghana through the Participation, Accountability, Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) initiative. Participants were drawn from the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Northern Regions.
Resource persons from The Fourth Estate, Transparency International Ghana, Corruption Watch, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor led sessions on following financial trails, understanding procurement procedures, and applying Ghana’s anti-corruption laws. The programme also addressed ethical reporting, source protection, and the emotional resilience required for investigative journalism.
Speaking at the event, MFWA’s Programme Manager, Rosemond Aryeetey, said the training was designed to “equip young journalists with the skills and courage to expose corruption and demand accountability.”
GIZ representative Kweku Lartey Obeng described the participants as “unsung heroes of democracy,” adding that corruption “steals opportunities from our children and undermines national development.”
Seth J. Bokpe of The Fourth Estate highlighted the psychological pressures of investigative reporting and urged journalists to prioritise their mental health while pursuing tough stories.
The training forms part of a series of modules that will cover the Right to Information (RTI) law, data journalism, and fact-checking. MFWA has additionally opened applications for its Next Generation Investigative Journalism Fellowship, a three-month residential programme for young journalists committed to accountability reporting.
Meanwhile, experts from the Anti-Corruption Investigative Lab (ACILA) cautioned participants against using entrapment in corruption investigations, stressing the importance of ethical methods.Participants described the workshop as eye-opening, noting that it sharpened their investigative instincts and gave them practical tools to monitor public institutions.
MFWA says the initiative is part of its long-term effort to strengthen the watchdog role of the media and support the fight against corruption in Ghana.