The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has initiated a training program for journalists in Ghana, focusing on the legal framework that governs media practice. This effort aims to enhance the media's capacity to manage legal risks and resist judicial intimidation. The program is part of the MFWA's African Media Integrity and Resilience Programme: Ghana, Central African Republic (AMIRP Programme), a two-and-a-half-year project implemented in collaboration with DW Akademie and funded by the European Union through International Media Support (IMS).
The training program combines residential sessions on media law and legal risk management with the operationalization of a Legal Support Fund (LSF). This fund provides financial assistance for legal representation to journalists facing litigation or judicial harassment due to their legitimate professional activities. Dr. Daniel Kwame Ampofo Adjei, Program Manager of the MFWA, emphasized that the initiative seeks to build a resilient media that can effectively contribute to democratic participation. He highlighted the importance of the media as a platform for expressing citizens' voices.
Dr. Ampofo Adjei noted that the media often faces legal challenges, including defamation suits and injunctions, while many media houses lack the financial resources to defend themselves in court. To address this, the MFWA has provided approximately GH¢544,000 for the Legal Support Fund. So far, 60 media personnel have been trained, with sessions organized in the southern and northern sectors. The program also involves reviewing the curricula of media and communication training institutions in Ghana to ensure journalism education remains relevant to contemporary challenges.
A consultant is currently reviewing the curricula, and the findings will be subjected to stakeholder validation before recommendations are made. Dr. Ampofo Adjei urged journalists to apply the knowledge gained from the training by maintaining professional and ethical standards. He cautioned that the availability of legal support should not encourage journalists to become careless or reckless in their work. The training aims to empower journalists with knowledge of the legal frameworks governing freedom of expression in Ghana.
Private legal practitioner and broadcast journalist, Samson Lardy Anyenini, facilitated the training and emphasized the importance of the Legal Support Fund. He explained that while individuals have the right to seek redress through constitutional and legal channels, some lawsuits may aim to intimidate or prevent journalists from reporting on issues of public interest. Mr. Anyenini highlighted the need for journalists to verify information, seek responses from subjects, and obtain supporting documentation to minimize legal risks.
Mr. Anyenini advised journalists to distinguish between opinions, allegations, and established facts, and to preserve evidence in anticipation of possible legal challenges. He stressed that the Constitution provides protections for the media while also placing responsibilities on journalists to promote accountability and serve the interests of the Ghanaian people. Journalists were encouraged to undertake their work boldly while exercising professional care.
The training program is a significant step towards promoting media integrity and resilience in Ghana. By equipping journalists with knowledge of the legal framework and providing financial support, the MFWA aims to enhance the media's ability to report on issues of public interest without fear of intimidation. The program's impact is expected to be long-term, contributing to a more robust and accountable media landscape in Ghana.
Key points
- The MFWA has trained 60 journalists on media law and legal risk management as part of its African Media Integrity and Resilience Programme.
