Dikan centre unveils 2024 journalism fellowship to empower aspiring journalists

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The Dikan Centre, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, has officially launched the inaugural Dikan Journalism Fellowship.

This pioneering five-month program is designed to empower early to mid-career journalists from across Ghana by offering a platform for impactful storytelling on the nation’s most pressing issues.

The fellowship will select ten journalists from diverse media backgrounds, including four women, providing them with the opportunity to lead in addressing critical societal challenges through their work.

The launch event featured keynote addresses from influential media personalities, including Matthew Asada, Press Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana; Beatrice Owusu-Boateng, former head of Dikan’s Education Department; and Professor Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, former rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism and current Board Chair of New Times Corporation.

The programme’s distinguished partner, the U.S. Embassy, was introduced during the event. The fellowship will culminate in a graduation and showcase event in March 2025, where fellows will present their final projects to an audience of community members, media leaders, and supporters.

The Fellowship provides participants with financial support, cutting-edge tools, and access to esteemed local and international mentors, fostering an environment where journalists can step back from daily duties and focus on producing high-impact, in-depth reporting. With guidance from renowned mentors, fellows will work on crucial topics, including gender, environmental issues, human rights, democracy, and governance—areas essential to fostering an informed and transparent media landscape in Ghana.Tourism packages.

“We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of journalists,” noted Paul Ninson, Director of the Dikan Center. “At Dikan, we believe in the power of journalism to drive change. Our goal with this fellowship is to create a space where journalists in Ghana can fully dedicate themselves to investigative reporting and learn from some of the most respected voices in the field.”

Throughout the fellowship, participants will engage in specialized workshops covering digital journalism skills, investigative techniques, data journalism, media law, and solutions journalism. A key component of the program is the Journalist Safety Boot Camp, offering essential training in first aid, mental health support, and field safety to equip journalists with the knowledge and resilience they need in their profession.

Fellows and Mentorship

This year’s fellows include both freelance and employed journalists, all selected for their dedication to public service journalism and their drive to amplify underreported issues. With guidance from seasoned journalists and academics from Ghana and beyond, fellows will acquire the knowledge and experience needed to elevate their work and make meaningful contributions to the field.

Our 2024-2025 fellows are:

  • Rebecca Tetteh
  • Esther Agyapong
  • Dollita Okine
  • Stella Botchwey
  • Prince Antwi Boasiako
  • Jeremiah Nutsugah
  • Joseph Kuuire
  • Narh Joshua
  • Ishmael Awudi