GH¢10m Media Fund: ‘We Need Clear Rules to Prevent Political Interference’ – MFWA

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has called for clear governance structures, transparent operational guidelines and strong accountability measures to guide the proposed GH¢10 million Media Development Fund announced by President John Dramani Mahama.

The Foundation says the success of the initiative will depend not merely on the amount allocated but also on how the money is managed, who qualifies for assistance and the safeguards put in place to prevent political interference and misuse of public funds.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express programme on Monday, November 9, MFWA Programme Manager, Kwaku Krobea Asante, welcomed the government’s announcement but cautioned that Ghana must learn from previous attempts to establish a similar fund.

According to him, the country needs to establish clear structures covering the fund’s administration, legal framework, governance arrangements and operational procedures before disbursement begins.

“We need to deal with the structures that are put in place, the government, the legal and governance safeguards, and the clear operational structures,” he said.

Mr Asante argued that Ghana should draw lessons from countries such as France, those in Scandinavia, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, where different forms of state-supported media development arrangements exist.

However, he cautioned that the major challenge is ensuring that such funds are used strictly for their intended purposes.

MFWA recalls concerns over previous GH¢1m media fund

The MFWA Programme Manager recalled that in 2013, the Foundation and other civil society organisations raised concerns about the management of an earlier GH¢1 million allocation intended for media development.

He explained that the Ministry of Information at the time indicated that the money had been used to purchase laptops and other equipment for journalists and media organisations.

However, questions remained unanswered regarding the procurement process, the criteria used to select beneficiaries and the quality of the equipment distributed.

“We don’t have answers to those questions,” he stated.

He said the experience demonstrated why the latest initiative must be supported by transparent procedures and clearly defined responsibilities to prevent similar controversies.

Concerns over political influence and beneficiaries

Mr Asante also questioned how journalists and media organisations would be selected to benefit from the proposed fund.

He called for clear eligibility requirements and safeguards to ensure that public resources are not channelled towards organisations or individuals because of their political affiliations.

He particularly raised concerns about media organisations with strong partisan political interests, arguing that the fund should not become a mechanism for financing the agendas of political parties.

According to him, the process must be independent, transparent and accessible to qualified media practitioners without political considerations influencing decisions.

Mahama announces GH¢10m allocation

President John Dramani Mahama announced a GH¢10 million allocation in the 2027 national budget as seed money for the reactivation of the Media Development Fund.

The announcement was made at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

The fund is expected to support journalists’ welfare, professional development, investigative reporting, digital literacy and safety training.

The President also indicated his intention to engage corporate institutions, including KGL Group and the Bank of Ghana, to contribute additional resources to strengthen the initiative.

He assured journalists that the government would work with the GJA and other stakeholders to translate the commitment into practical support while respecting editorial independence.

MFWA urges stakeholders to look beyond GH¢10m

While acknowledging the potential benefits of the allocation, Mr Asante stressed that stakeholders must look beyond the initial GH¢10 million and focus on establishing a sustainable funding arrangement.

He maintained that the fund could provide significant support to Ghana’s media industry, particularly at a time when several media organisations are struggling with operational costs and the financial demands of quality journalism.

He therefore urged the government, media associations and other stakeholders to prioritise transparency, accountability and institutional independence in developing the fund’s operational framework.

The MFWA’s concerns have renewed attention on the need to ensure that the revived Media Development Fund does not suffer the same challenges that affected its earlier implementation.

For the Foundation, the real test of the GH¢10 million initiative will not simply be the announcement of the money, but whether it can be administered fairly, independently and transparently for the benefit of Ghana’s media industry.