Introducing the Sixth Ngij Fellows Cohort

A New Wave of Investigative Journalists in Ghana

The Media Foundation for West Africa has selected 10 journalists from across Ghana to participate in a three-month investigative journalism fellowship. This initiative focuses on enhancing their skills in areas such as Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), progressive taxation, and domestic revenue mobilisation. The sixth cohort represents a dynamic shift in the evolving landscape of journalism, bringing together a diverse group of professionals from various media platforms.

Diverse Backgrounds and Expertise

The fellows include newspaper journalists, fact-checkers, online reporters, editors, radio and television broadcasters, and a photojournalist. They cover a wide range of topics including politics, business, human rights, health, climate change, and the environment. Over the course of the program, they will engage in capacity-building activities at the MFWA, exploring IFFs, progressive taxation, and innovations in storytelling and solution journalism.

Each fellow brings unique experiences and perspectives to the table. For instance, Winifred Lartey, a seasoned reporter at Asaase Radio, is an alumna of the University of Media Arts and Communications-Institute of Journalism. With over 5,000 stories to her name, she has covered themes ranging from air and waste pollution to infrastructure issues. Her goal is to deepen her proficiency in fact checking, data journalism, and the Right to Information law.

Commitment to Public Interest Journalism

Isaac Azumah Abilla, a broadcast reporter with the EIB Network, is passionate about public interest journalism. He aims to strengthen his investigative reporting skills through the NGIJ Fellowship. Similarly, Job Kwabena Laboja, a multimedia journalist, seeks to sharpen his investigative skills and produce compelling stories that hold power to account.

Juliet Etefe, a journalist and online editor at the Business and Financial Times, focuses on business and finance, environmental sustainability, gender, and development issues. She hopes to contribute impactful evidence-based stories that promote transparency and accountability.

Prince Ato Kwamena Koomson, a freelance journalist based in Accra, runs Voices of Concern—a blog and YouTube channel dedicated to reporting on social issues. His goal is to expose problems and highlight systemic issues that enable them. Ibrahim Seidu Abode, a journalist from the Upper East Region, is optimistic about gaining in-depth knowledge on illicit financial flows.

Focusing on Governance and Social Justice

Prinsella Vera Aidoo, a journalist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies, is committed to truth, accuracy, and ethical standards. She is particularly interested in governance, social justice, and development. Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith, a photojournalist from the Upper East Region, uses photography and video to highlight issues around governance and underrepresented communities.

Bright Tetteh Terkpernor, a journalist with the Daily Dispatch, is thrilled to be part of the 6th cohort. He loves fact-checking and hopes to gain knowledge to combat the ills in the digital society. Esther Agyapong, a broadcast and online journalist, believes in the power of storytelling for impact and seeks to understand the intricacies of investigative journalism and its impact on Ghana’s development.

Expanding Reach and Impact

The NGIJ Fellowship not only builds the capacity of journalists but also promotes innovation and elevates the standards of the profession. In addition to the fellowship program, the MFWA publishes reports of the fellows on the websites of The Fourth Estate and Fact-Check Ghana, which are investigative journalism and fact-checking projects of the Foundation.

This initiative underscores the importance of accountability journalism in shaping a more transparent and just society. By equipping journalists with the necessary skills and knowledge, the MFWA aims to foster a culture of accountability and drive meaningful change across Ghana and the broader West African region.