MFWA Launches GHS 544,000 Legal Support Fund for Ghanaian Journalists*

A legal support fund has been launched to assist Ghanaian journalists facing legal challenges.

The fund is part of the Africa Media Integrity and Resilience Programme (AMIRP), led by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and funded by the European Union. It aims to reduce journalists' legal vulnerabilities and strengthen media freedom by providing timely legal assistance and capacity building.

As part of the initiative, the MFWA organized a residential training program for about 30 journalists from across the country.

The training brought together reporters, editors, and media managers to deepen their understanding of media law, journalists' rights, and available redress mechanisms.

Sessions covered practical topics including defamation and libel, access to information, court procedures, digital media risks, and ethical considerations, as well as how to seek legal remedies and manage legal risk in day-to-day reporting.

The fund and training are expected to deliver several outcomes: faster access to legal counsel and representation for journalists; a stronger ability among media professionals to navigate legal threats without resorting to self-censorship; more robust institutional policies within newsrooms; and a growing network of legally literate media practitioners.

Dr. Kojo Impraim, Program Director for Media for Peace and Democracy at the MFWA, said the fund will provide legal support to journalists working both offline and online.

"This will ensure journalists have backing when they face threats or legal suits. They can turn to the Media Foundation for West Africa to access the fund," he said.

Ama Kodjo, Programme Director for DW Akademie Ghana, who presented a dummy cheque at the event, explained that the project is broadly divided into two components: capacity building for journalists and the provision of legal support.

By: Seraphina Quaicoe