Here’s how a new media project is fast reviving accountability journalism in Ghana – Media Foundation For West Africa

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), was launched in March 2021. The Fourth Estate, an independent, not for profit, public interest, and accountability journalism program in Ghana. The project aims to revive quality journalism, which is the kind that holds the powerful accountable, improves transparency in the public sector, and amplifies voices and needs for the marginalised.

In less than one year of its existence, The Fourth Estate has already established itself as one of Ghana’s most trusted news sources.  It has proven that journalism, when done well and without undue interferings, can hold the powerful accountable and serve public interest.

The core team of eight young journalists, led by Manasseh AzureAwuni, an award-winning investigative journalist has produced many important and impactful stories in the past ten months. These stories include corruption, human rights and environment, as well as health, and other topics that are relevant.

Health and corruption are two examples. comprehensive story on fraudulent activities in some COVID-19 test labsIt was revealed that staff at several testing laboratories were involved with the issuance of false COVID-19 test certificates. The facilities named as complicit in the practice included the clinic at Ghana’s Presidency, the Jubilee House clinic. The story prompted the Presidency to order investigationsIn the issue

Other COVID-19 related investigations also revealed wasteful expenditure of public resourcesGhanaian government in fighting against the pandemic. lack of proper care resulted in COVID-related deaths.

On corruption, an investigation into acts of bribery at Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority resulted in the dismissal of the Authority’s head of legal services. Another investigation titled: “Bongo Scandal” that revealed fraudulent activities at a community bank in Bongo, a town in Northern Ghana, prompted an investigation into activities of the bank by the regulator for rural and community banks in Ghana, the ARB Apex Bank.

The human rights movement is a great story police and military brutalities in GhanaThis report provides a detailed account on more than two dozen instances of military and police killings, as well as other brutalities committed by security agencies since 2017.

It is also interesting to see how personnel from national institutions have contributed to the success of this story. security raided a casino in AsankraguaThe town of, in the Western region Ghana. This exclusive video footage shows how mufti-clad security officials terrorized staff members of the facility and then took the necessary steps to break into rooms and take down security cameras.

Still on human rights, an investigative piece titled: “The licensed sex predator” revealed how a number of women were sexually assaulted by a self-styled physiotherapist, Jonathan Ohene Nkunim. Jonathan Ohene Nkunim was arrested following the story. He is currently being prosecuted. Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) has listed the story as one of the top ten stories. top 10 investigative stories from Sub-Sahara Africa in 2021.

There have also been some great environmental stories like this one. how sea erosion is literally obliterating some coastal communities in Ghana. Other environmental stories were also investigated illegal export of banned timber speciesAn awaiting disasterUnregulated and precarious housing.

There are many more. It was created in a short time. The Fourth EstateThrough the use of Right to Information legislation, journalism has also shown how journalism can improve transparency and accountability in the public sector. The Fourth Estate, has been a major driver in putting Ghana’s 2019 RTI law to the test.

Its operation was completed in the first five months (March-20 July 2021). The Fourth Estate The team submitted 36 RTI requests for 33 public institutions. The institutions to whom the requests were filed include the Parliament of Ghana, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Public Procurement Authority, Minerals Commission (the regulator of Ghana’s expansive mining sector), Ministry of Roads, among several other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MMDAs) of state. More than 50 RTI requests were filed by the end of 2021.

As expected, many of the institutions failed or refused to comply with their obligations to provide requested information as mandated by Ghana’s RTI law (Act 989). An article The Fourth Estate Presented the 33 public institutions that passed or failed its RTI test.

52% of institutions failed or delayed to acknowledge or reply to requests made by requesters after the RTI law stipulates that they must make a decision within the specified 14 days. The Fourth Estate. According to the RTI law, a refusal by information-holding organizations to grant requested information within the stipulated time period is considered a refusal.

But the quest to receive requested information doesn’t end when institutions fail to respond to requests or refuse to grant requests. What follows is where the great stories and victories are.

Petitions are filed with the RTI Commission asking for the Commission to adjudicate on and compel information-holding organizations that are in default to release requested data. Another case was filed with the RTI Commission to challenge illegal fees imposed on institutions in order to grant requested information.

By 2021’s end, The Fourth EstateHad filed 11 petitions before the RTI Commission. These were against state institutions which refused or failed grant requested information or those who were requesting fees deemed too high, or illegitimate.

In fact, the RTI Commission’s first decision on an RTI request was made on a case brought by The Fourth Estate. In such a case, The Fourth EstateI had asked the Minerals Commission of Ghana for information on the mining licenses that had been issued. The Minerals Commission provided the following response The Fourth Estate It is necessary to pay the equivalent of US$1,000 in local currency as feesFor the information requested, pay GHC6,000

The Fourth Estate In June 2021, I filed a complaint with RTI Commission. I argued that the Mineral Commission had charged me an astronomical amount and was in violation of the RTI Law. The Minerals Commission was directed by the RTI Commission to release the requested information in a July 19th 2021 decision. The Fourth EstateAs requested, via email at a cost of US$0.32 or GHC2. To challenge the decision by the RTI Commission, the Minerals Commission has filed suit at the High Court.

The RTI Commission has made other groundbreaking decisions in relation to cases that were filed by The Fourth Estate.

For instance, the Commission recently fined the Ghana National Fire Service GHC50,000 (about US$8,000). This was after the Fire Service had failed grant an emergency grant The Fourth Estate’s requested information, and failed to explain to the Commission why it refused to give the requested information.

The RTI Commission recently also imposed a fine of GHC30,000For failing to provide requested information, the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency HeFRA was fined approximately US$5,000 The Fourth Estate and also for failing to respond to the RTI Commission’s enquiry in relation to The Fourth Estate’s request.

Another case by The Fourth EstateThe RTI Commission ordered that the state Scholarship Secretariat be established. release the list of all scholarship beneficiaries for 2019 and 2020 to The Fourth EstateAs requested. The Scholarship Secretariat argued that it couldn’t provide the requested information because of concerns about data protection. However, the RTI Commission ruled that the excuse of data privacy was not valid and was not supported by the exemptions provisions in the RTI Law.

These types of journalism projects could be what helps to revitalise quality journalism in Africa. They can also inspire trust and hope in the media.