Accra: The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) have conducted a three-day training session for Ghanaian journalists, equipping them with essential tools and techniques to combat illicit financial flows (IFFs) within the country. This initiative aims to strengthen the role of the media in addressing financial crimes by fostering collaboration between journalists and anti-corruption agencies.

According to Ghana News Agency, the training is a component of GIZ’s Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme. This programme is designed to enhance governance systems by promoting accountability, integrity, and citizen participation. PAIReD is a four-year initiative commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, with co-financing from the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. It is implemented in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Finance.

Held in Accra f
rom October 22 to October 25, the training sought to build journalists’ capacity to effectively investigate financial crimes and illicit financial flows. Participants were trained in investigative techniques, fact-checking, storytelling, and understanding the legal framework that established the OSP and its operations.

Mr. Kweku Obeng, Component Manager of PAIReD at GIZ, emphasized the importance of collaboration between journalists and the OSP in combating IFFs and corruption in Ghana. He highlighted that such partnerships amplify truth, advance justice, and bolster public confidence in governance systems. The training aimed to build trust and mutual understanding between journalists and anti-corruption bodies.

Mr. Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of the Strategy, Research and Communication Division at the OSP, praised the journalists as reformers and nation-builders. He urged them to support Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts, noting that informed journalists are crucial in accurately reporting and reinforcing
public trust in anti-corruption initiatives.

The training facilitator, Mr. Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, an investigative journalist of international repute, highlighted the complexities involved in investigating IFFs and financial crimes. He encouraged journalists to collaborate with stakeholders to effectively tackle these issues, emphasizing the need for continuous capacity building and provision of resources to support investigative journalism.