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The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in collaboration with Oxfam in Ghana , has officially launched a comprehensive guide to help journalists in Ghana understand and report effectively on illicit financial flows (IFFs), progressive taxation, resource-based lending, and domestic resource mobilization funded by Norad.
The launch, held at the British Council Hall in Accra on Friday, August 1, brought together journalists from across the country, as well as key stakeholders from the media industry and civil society organizations.
Speaking to the media after the event, Rosemond Ebi-Adwo Aryeetey, Senior Programme Manager for Media, Democracy and Good Governance at MFWA, underscored the importance of the guide for the media landscape in Ghana. “When you do a cursory survey or speak to most journalists, the general feedback is that there’s a low level of knowledge and skills when it comes to IFFs and how to report on them,” she said.
“This guide provides a holistic tool not just identifying what illicit financial flows are, but also touching on related themes such as domestic resource mobilization and tax justice. It explores the links between these areas and how IFFs affect government’s ability to provide development and infrastructure.”
According to Ms. Aryeetey, the guide is meant to shine a light on complex financial topics often underreported by the media and to empower journalists to educate the public and demand accountability from the government.
She further urged media personnel not to allow the document to become a “white elephant” sitting idle in newsrooms. “We’ve provided hard copies, but most importantly, the guide is available online in electronic format for easy access and sharing. We encourage journalists to download it, study it, and share it with their colleagues,” she added.
Rosemond emphasized that IFFs directly impact the quality of public services, such as road infrastructure and healthcare delivery, and called on the media to play its critical role in exposing these flows.
“The effects of IFFs show in the nature of our roads and the value of services in our hospitals. As the voice of society, journalists must delve into the guide, use it to inform their reporting, and hold authorities accountable,” she concluded.
The guide is expected to serve as a key resource for media practitioners committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and economic justice in Ghana.
Source:channel247online.com/Masopeh Jeremiah
Yaw Boagyan
Rafiq Adam
