The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) recently trained journalists on investigating and reporting illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Ghana.<\/p>\n
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The three-day workshop, held in Accra, aimed to equip journalists with the necessary tools and techniques to help fight IFFs and corruption.<\/p>\n
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The training covered topics such as investigating financial crimes, tracking illicit financial flows, fact-checking and storytelling. This effort is part of a broader initiative to promote transparency and accountability in Ghana’s financial systems.<\/p>\n
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Mr. Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, the training facilitator and investigative journalist of international repute, told the participants that investigating illicit financial flows and financial crimes was not simple, but complicated.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe subject matter isn\u2019t on the surface. It\u2019s not easy to just look at information and conclude that a certain conduct or an act has led or is leading to illicit financial flows,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
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He, however, encouraged the journalists to join forces with other stakeholders to fight it, saying, \u201cwe owe it to ourselves and the stability of this country to ensure that the fight to stem illicit financial flows and financial crimes succeeds.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Mr. Dogbevi who is also the Managing Editor of Ghana Business News and Executive Director of the media training organisation, NewsBridge Africa, called for intensified efforts to capacity building for journalists, and providing reporting grants, to fund investigations \u2013 an endeavour that sometimes could take 12 months or more to complete.<\/p>\n
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Mr. Kweku Obeng, Component Manager of the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme at GIZ, speaking at the programme, explained that a collaboration between journalists and the OSP \u2013 an anti-corruption agency, was critical in Ghana\u2019s fight against IFFs and corruption.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhen these two work hand in hand, truth gains a voice, justice gains traction, and citizens gain confidence in the systems that serve them,\u201d Mr. Obeng stated, adding that the training was to also build trust and mutual understanding.<\/p>\n
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The programme\u2019s collaboration with the OSP is founded on the conviction that corruption must not only be punished but prevented, and that public confidence must be earned through professionalism and transparency, he said.<\/p>\n
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He said: \u201cInvesting in journalists\u2019 capacity is essential to the fight against corruption, as journalists serve as the eyes, ears and conscience of society. When empowered with the right knowledge and ethical tools, they become agents of accountability who inspire public demand for integrity in governance.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Mr. Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of the Strategy, Research and Communication Division at the OSP, described the participating journalists as \u201cnot just reporters but reformers, not just storytellers but nation-builders,\u201d urging them to support the country\u2019s corruption fight.<\/p>\n
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He stated that the establishment of the OSP was in fulfilment of international, regional and national strategies, serving as a body, independent of the political class, and \u2018disruptors\u2019 in Ghana\u2019s corruption fight.<\/p>\n
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He noted that informed journalists, who understand the institution\u2019s mandate, methods and constraints were better equipped to report accurately and fairly, building public trust and reinforcing support for anti-corruption efforts.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhen journalists and anti-corruption institutions engage constructively, wet create an ecosystem of accountability, one that protects the public purse, strengthens institutions, and uplifts national confidence,\u201d Mr. Darko said.<\/p>\n
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The OSP and GIZ are working together to strengthen governance systems through enhanced accountability, integrity and citizen participation. This partnership underscores the importance of collaboration between anti-corruption institutions and the media in Ghana’s fight against corruption.<\/p>\n
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The training was funded through the PAIReD programme, aimed at strengthening governance systems through enhanced accountability, integrity, and citizen participation.<\/p>\n
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PAIReD is a four-year initiative commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, co-financed by the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, and implemented by GIZ in partnership with Ghana\u2019s Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n
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By Adnan Adams Mohammed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) recently trained journalists on investigating and reporting illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Ghana. The three-day workshop, held in Accra, aimed to equip journalists with the necessary tools and techniques to help fight IFFs and corruption. The training covered<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[2712,2713,445,2711],"class_list":{"0":"post-9578","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-german-development-cooperation-giz","9":"tag-illicit-financial-flows-iffs","10":"tag-journalists","11":"tag-office-of-the-special-prosecutor-osp"},"yoast_head":"\n