2023
Corruption and Abuse of Power
Entry type: Single project
Country/area: Ghana
Publishing organisation: The Fourth Estate, Myjoyonline.com and many others.
Organisation size: Small
Publication date: 2022-08-09
Language: English
Authors: Philip Teye Agbove
Biography:
Philip Teye Agbove is a Ghanaian Investigative freelancer. Prior of becoming an Investigative Journalist,he was a freelancer with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and correspondent for UK-based SheHub.tv
The Media Foundation For West Africa (MFWA) named him ‘Most Promising Young Investigative Journalist of the Year 2022’ for his passion for just society.
He was also honoured in August 2022 by the International Justice Mission (IJM) as ‘Most Outstanding Justice Advocate for his remarkable strides towards fighting human trafficking in Ghana.
Philip believes that through investigative journalism he will find solutions to complex issues and solve the recurring problems in society.
Project description:
My project was about a traditional council that banned Community Radio Station from providing coverage for its audience after several warnings from the council to stop serializing a public document that was signed in secrecy. Corruption and abuse of power by local authorities. My project brought the issue to the light and the action of the traditional council was condemned by civil society organizations, republished by numerous media organizations . The mother umbrella of journalists in Ghana went on a fact finding mission after my project was published and described the action by the traditional council as “an affront on journalism”.
Impact reached:
The action of the traditional council was condemned by civil society organizations in Ghana and abroad. The radio station was allowed to continue its work for the vulnerable in society. The Ghana Journalists Association among other organizations went on a fact finding mission and held press conferences to condemned the action of the traditional council within the same week the project was published. The society through the project new the rot the traditional council was covering up and increased support for the country’s premier community radio. Because the writer was young and the story was nationwide,young journalists were inspired to do better and impactful Journalism that benefits society. I was also commended by the Ghana Journalists Association for highlighting the plight of the station.
Techniques/technologies used:
I did the project with my Infinix Hot 10
mobile phone. I understand my phone to conduct interviews , take pictures and researched about the festival,the traditional council,similar occurrences among others which made the project a sober one.
Context about the project:
I was financially handicapped when i was told about the incident. I needed money to travel from Ghana’s capital city to the village to investigate the incident,it was a two and half drive. Also the traditional council didn’t cooperate during the project by denying me access to information and refusing to comment on the issue after several appeal. It was also difficult getting data on previous or similar incidents but i persevered. The traditional council also threatened to sue me if a go ahead to publish the project, all were deliberate attempts to silence me.
What can other journalists learn from this project?
They must know that data is key and technology has come to stay. They should not be intimidated from any angle but be poised to use data and technology to highlight the plight of societies for development. They shouldn’t be silenced on corruption, injustice,rot among others.
Project links:
