By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Dec 08, GNA – Mr Bright Sowu, Head of Programmes, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), says credibility and integrity play key roles in investigative journalism.
He said as an investigative journalist, “nobody would want to read your stories if they find out that your sources are not credible.”
Mr Sowu made these remarks prior to the celebration of the 2022 International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) in Accra, on the topic, “Fighting Corruption: The Role of Investigative Journalism.” December 9, is the day set aside for the celebration of the IACD.
The 2022 IACD seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption, peace, security and development, and to raise awareness on corruption and the role of the Convention in combatting it.
Mr Sowu said a lot of people tried to influence investigative journalists with money to “drown” a story or print in a particular line to favour them, but he advised them to be careful of such acts and remain true to the Ghanaian populace.
He said GACC worked in research, advocacy, capacity building and sensitisation on anti-corruption issues.
Mr Sowu said as part of the celebration, they engaged students in basic schools across the country to explain what the issues of corruption were, what it meant and what could be done as young people to also help in combatting corruption.
He added that, “we need to see investigative journalism as a social responsibility, where we receive backings from our institutions because it becomes very difficult to go out there and do such works without backings.”
Mr Sowu appealed to various institutions to make more resources available for investigative journalism.
Mr Manasseh Awuni Azure, Editor-In-Chief, The Fourth Estate, said as an investigative journalist, “you should be competent, courageous and have good characters.”
He said accessing information was one of the biggest challenges investigative journalists faced in their line of work.
“In view of that, do not make it discourage you from digging for the information for your story, you will by all means be able to do the story so far as you have commenced,” he added.
Mrs Francisca Enchill, Corporate Watch, said investigative journalists have a duty to perform, and that, when things were falling apart in the country, they became the only hope for the citizens.
She added that most times corrupt practices occur within the Executive, Legislature and Judicial arms of government, but it was “the duty of investigative journalists to find out what goes on.”
Ms Enchill also said most times, campaigns were financed by contractors, business owners, “so when the party comes into power, they award “unnecessary” contracts to these business owners who keep underperforming.”
“It is then the duty of the investigative journalist after smelling something fishy to probe to find out the exact details in the contract and the others,” she emphasised.
Ms Virginia Elliot, Public Affairs Counselor, U.S (United States) Embassy, said the United States and Ghana shared common goals as two democratic nations and work together on a number of mutual interests like inclusive economic growth, regional security, and protecting fundamental freedoms and human rights.
She said, “we regularly acknowledge the fourth estate for its critical part in holding government accountable, pressing for transparency, and informing the public in a balanced way on topics that affect their daily lives.”
Ms Elliot noted that freedom of the press was fundamental to democratic societies and applauded investigative journalists who probed deeply areas of concern to the citizenry.
GNA