Hot Source
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has intensified its push for accountability and good governance with a comprehensive capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening investigative reporting and anti-corruption journalism in Ghana.
From 23 to 26 September 2025, thirty journalists drawn from the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Northern Regions gathered at the Sunlodge Hotel in Accra for the first leg of a three-part training initiative. The wider series will continue with sessions on the Right to Information (RTI) law, data journalism and fact-checking.
Led by specialists from Transparency International Ghana, Corruption Watch and the Fourth Estate, the opening module focused on practical techniques for exposing graft, following financial trails and protecting sources. Hands-on exercises were paired with deep dives into Ghana’s key anti-corruption statutes, including the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act and the Anti-Corruption Act.
Rosemond Aryeetey, senior manager for MFWA’s Media for Democracy and Good Governance programme, underscored the organisation’s long-term mission: to “nurture a new generation of fearless and ethical investigative journalists dedicated to the public interest”.
“Specifically for this training, we brought journalists together from selected regions in Ghana to upscale them and enhance their capacity when it comes to reporting on corruption issues, teaching them the skills and knowledge to expose corruption and promote transparency and accountability from duty-bearers,” she said.
A key addition to the programme was a session on the psychological demands of investigative work, delivered by Fourth Estate journalist Seth J. Bokpe. He highlighted the importance of seeking professional help and building emotional resilience, noting that the intense nature of corruption investigations and the daily pressures of the newsroom can be overwhelming and take a serious toll on mental health.
Kweku Lartey Obeng, component manager at GIZ Ghana, praised the participants as “unsung heroes of democracy”, warning that “corruption robs the nation of our very future… it steals opportunities from our children, drains resources meant for development, and dashes the hopes of our youth”.
He urged them to put their new skills into practice: “Our expectation is very simple: that the skills and tools you acquire here will translate into impactful stories; stories that inspire change, expose wrongdoing, and hold power to account.”
Participants described the workshop as transformative, saying it sharpened their investigative techniques, broadened their understanding of the legal frameworks that underpin anti-corruption work, and sensitised them to the need for mental-health support in the profession.
The training reflects MFWA’s wider legacy of strengthening the watchdog role of the media. Over the years, the foundation has spearheaded initiatives ranging from monitoring public procurement and tracking public spending to providing RTI law training and financial investigative support for journalists.
These programmes have consistently promoted ethical reporting, exposed misuse of public resources and encouraged citizens to demand accountability from public officials.
For many of the thirty participants, the workshop was more than instruction, it was a call to action. As one attendee reflected, the training “reinforced that every journalist must embrace investigative work to expose wrongdoing and demand accountability.”
The initiative is supported by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) under the Participation, Accountability, Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) project and held in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, the latest MFWA effort signals a deepening commitment to transparency and citizen participation.
The post Media Foundation steps up anti-corruption fight, grooming next generation of watchdog reporters appeared first on The Herald ghana.
