Media Foundation for West Africa trains 30 Ghanaian journalists to strengthen anti-corruption reporting

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The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has trained 30 Ghanaian journalists from across the country in investigative journalism and anti-corruption reporting, sending them back to their newsrooms with a renewed resolve to challenge corruption.

The training, held from September 23 to 25, 2025, at the Sunlodge Hotel, formed the first module of a three-part capacity-building initiative under MFWA’s flagship project, “Countering Corruption through Accountability Journalism and Improved Freedom of Expression Environment in Ghana.”

Upcoming sessions will focus on the Right to Information (RTI) law, data journalism, and fact-checking.

The sessions were led by experts, including the Fundraising manager of Transparency International Ghana, Michael Boadi, who provided insights into Ghana’s anti-corruption legal and institutional frameworks and the Technical Advisor of Corruption Watch Ghana, William Nyarko, who guided participants through the investigative process, from sourcing data and developing hypotheses to protecting whistleblowers and ensuring ethical reporting.

Seth J. Bokpe of The Fourth Estate also engaged the group on the psychological demands of investigative work, urging journalists to build resilience in the face of threats, intimidation, and the intense pressures that often accompany corruption investigations.

In her opening address, Rosemond Ebi-Adwo Aryeetey, Senior Manager for MFWA’s Media for Democracy and Good Governance programme, explained that the training brought together journalists from across the country to develop their skills in exposing corruption and demanding accountability from duty bearers.

Kweku Lartey Obeng, Component Manager at GIZ Ghana, noted that they expected to see impactful stories that inspire change, which was the reason they had partnered with the MFWA.

“We chose MFWA as our partner for a reason. With a proven track record of training over 300 journalists, establishing Fact-Check Ghana as a trusted platform, and consistently driving accountability through fearless journalism, MFWA exemplifies the integrity and professionalism needed in this fight.”

Organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with support from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Participation, Accountability, Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme, co-financed by the EU and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and implemented by GIZ, the programme equipped participants with practical tools to investigate corruption, follow financial trails, and hold public officials accountable.