President John Dramani Mahama has announced that GH¢10 million will be included in Ghana’s 2027 national budget as seed funding for the Media Development Fund.
The initiative is intended to support journalists’ welfare, professional training, investigative reporting, digital literacy and safety training.
President Mahama made the announcement at the 30th anniversary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards, where he renewed the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s media industry.
He said the allocation would provide the initial funding needed to restart the scheme, which he first announced would be reactivated at last year’s GJA Media Awards.
“I am pleased to announce that government has allocated in the 2027 budget GH¢10 million of seed money for the Media Fund,” President Mahama said.
The President also said the government would seek financial backing from corporate institutions to help the fund meet its objectives.
He pledged to work personally with the GJA to attract further contributions, naming KGL and the Bank of Ghana among the organisations he intended to approach.
“I shall personally work with the GJA to get several other corporate institutions to contribute to the fund. So KGL, Bank of Ghana, all of you, we are coming to you to contribute to the Media Fund,” he said.
The fund is expected to provide support in several areas, including improving journalists’ welfare, developing professional skills, strengthening investigative journalism and helping media workers build their digital and safety capabilities.
President Mahama said the government would continue discussions with the GJA and other stakeholders to turn the financial pledge into practical assistance for journalists.
He added that the process would respect the editorial independence of the media.
The President also urged experienced media professionals, particularly editors, to play a greater role in mentoring younger journalists.
He said senior practitioners should give young reporters opportunities to develop practical newsroom experience and strengthen their ability to investigate issues of public interest.
In particular, he encouraged experienced journalists to help their younger colleagues understand how to analyse public accounts and use the information to produce more effective investigative reports.
“A young journalist who can sit with an editor and work through a set of public accounts will carry that skill into every story that follows,” he added.
