MFWA Builds Journalists’ Capacity on RTI Use in Investigative Reporting with Focus on Gender-Differentiated Corruption

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), with support from the German Cooperation, co-funded by the European Union and implemented by GIZ, has organized a three-day capacity-building workshop on the use of Ghana’s Right to Information (RTI) law in investigative journalism.

The training, which brought together selected journalists from across the country, focused on enhancing participants’ ability to use the RTI law to access public data for impactful and inclusive reporting.

A major highlight of the training was a session facilitated by Dr. Aurelia Ayisi, a Lecturer at the Department of Communication Studies, University of Ghana. Speaking on the topic, “Understanding Gender-Differentiated Corruption: Using Data and Statistics — Gender-Disaggregated Data in Corruption Stories,” Dr. Ayisi underscored the need for journalists to approach corruption reporting through a gender lens.

She explained that corruption affects men and women differently, yet most media investigations and reports fail to capture this disparity. “When we report corruption without gender-disaggregated data, we risk overlooking how systemic corruption impacts women, particularly those in rural communities, informal sectors, and marginalized groups,” Dr.Ayisi emphasized.

She highlighted examples where women face unique vulnerabilities, such as being coerced into paying bribes in kind for access to public services or employment. According to her, these forms of corruption often remain invisible due to the lack of gender-sensitive data collection and reporting practices.

Dr. Ayisi urged journalists to use the Right to Information law to demand gender-disaggregated statistics from public institutions, ministries, and local authorities. She noted that the RTI law provides journalists with the legal backing to access critical data that can reveal patterns of inequality and inform gender-responsive policies. “Data is powerful when used correctly, it can expose not only the scale of corruption but also the gendered dimensions of its impact,” she added.

Participants were trained on how to source, interpret, and analyze gender-based data to produce evidence-driven investigative stories. They also explored how storytelling techniques and visual data tools can make gendered corruption narratives more compelling and accessible to the public.

The training is part of MFWA’s broader initiative to strengthen investigative journalism, promote transparency, and enhance the use of Ghana’s RTI law in anti-corruption efforts. Through the support of its partners, the German Cooperation, the European Union, and GIZ. The Foundation continues to equip journalists with the skills to hold public institutions accountable while amplifying voices that are often left out of governance and policy discussions.

By integrating gender perspectives into investigative journalism, the initiative marks a significant step toward achieving fairer representation in media coverage and strengthening the role of journalism in promoting accountability and social justice in Ghana.

Story By: Ewurama Attoh |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.