GH¢10 Million for Journalists: Mahama's Media Fund, and the Question of Who Runs It

The Accra Times headline calls it a gift. In fact, President Mahama pledged GH¢10 million of public money in the 2027 Budget as seed capital for a Media Development Fund. The detail that matters is how the fund will be run.

The announcement. President Mahama announced the allocation at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra last Saturday. The theme was "Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age."

The fund is meant to support investigative reporting, digital literacy and safety training, along with welfare and professional capacity. He said the government would respect editorial independence.

More money to come? The President said he would personally approach corporate institutions, naming KGL Group and the Bank of Ghana, to add to the fund. He also urged editors to make room for younger reporters to learn, such as by working through public accounts with them.

A promise with history. This is not the first time the idea has surfaced. Mahama first announced a Media Development Fund in 2011 as Vice-President, and GH¢1 million was allocated as seed money in the 2012 Budget.

The fund was never operationalised after concerns over its management, administration and disbursement. He announced its reactivation at the 29th GJA Awards in Kumasi.

The test of governance. The Media Foundation for West Africa said in March that success depends on clear governance structures, operational independence, transparent disbursement and sustainable financing beyond the initial allocation.

One report noted it is not known how the fund will be run, who will oversee it, or when the first payments will reach journalists. The Ghanaian Times, in an editorial, said press freedom must go beyond promises.

Beyond money. Other voices at the same event pushed on rights. On the front page, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is reported urging repeal of laws criminalising false publication, and Speaker Alban Bagbin pledged Parliament's support for journalists' working conditions.

Funding helps, but many in the profession will say press freedom also means safety from arrests and prosecution.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

References
Graphic Online, "Govt allocates GH¢10m to reactivate Media Fund" (9 Nov 2026): https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-at-30th-gja-awards-govt-allocates-ghc10m-to-reactivate-media-fund.html

Graphic Online, "Government to allocate GH¢10million in 2027 Budget for Media Development Fund – President Mahama": https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/government-to-allocate-ghc10million-for-media-development-fund-president-mahama.html

Ghanaian Times, "At 30th GJA Awards: Govt commits GH¢10m to media fund": https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/at-30th-gja-awards-govt-commits-gh%C2%A210m-to-media-fund-philip-osei-bonsu-named-journalist-of-the-year/

GNA, "30th GJA Media Awards: Mahama announces GHS10 million seed money": https://gna.org.gh/2026/11/30th-gja-media-awards-mahama-announces-ghs10-million-seed-money-for-media-development-fund/

Ghanaian Times editorial, "Press freedom must go beyond promises": https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/press-freedom-must-go-beyond-promises/

ISD, "Government reactivates Media Development Fund" (29th GJA Awards): https://www.isd.gov.gh/government-reactivates-media-development-fund/

Modern Ghana, "30th GJA Awards: Mahama allocates GH¢10m to media" (with related headlines): https://www.modernghana.com/news/1542796/30th-gja-awards-mahama-allocates-gh10m-to-media.html

MFWA, background on the 2011 Media Development Fund announcement: https://mfwa.org/?p=50252

Rio Times, "Ghana Radio Host Is Journalist of the Year": https://www.riotimesonline.com/ghana-radio-host-journalist-of-the-year-gja-2026/