IMS supports investigative journalism in Ghana. Photo: Manja Kamwi/IMS

Investigative journalism can strengthen transparency and civil society in West Africa and ensure that media fulfill their role as watchdog

A key principle in any democratic society is that citizens are able to express their opinion and access information, based on which they can form opinions and exercise their rights. Without independent media and access to information, democratic and election processes are undermined.

Investigative reporting is often the best tool for raising the professional level and ensuring that the media fulfill their role of watchdog. Moreover, investigative reporting provides an opportunity to insert quality products into the media market, thereby also hopefully influencing the broader market and providing important information to their respective communities. 

Stories that change lives

"Ghana Journalist of the Year" awardee Anas Aremeyaw Anas has shown with his story “Child Alert” about the trafficking of young girls and modern slavery what one individual or team of investigative journalists can achieve.

Anas worked undercover for eight months as a cleaning assistant in a brothel to uncover the horrors of reality inside - young girls aged 11 to 14 being forced to sell their sexual services in order to pay for their daily bread. With stills and videos he was able to provide the evidence needed to prosecute the men behind the abuse of young children.

He worked undercover with hidden cameras for a month, but spent a total of 72 days working on the story. Because of his work Anas has been threatened several times. He rarely shows up in person to receive the many prizes he has been awarded. He was one of five runners up for the Global Shining Light Award at the global investigative journalism conference in Lillehammer in September 2008.

Other investigations pursued by Anas led to the break up of two major trafficking rings in Accra. Working undercover for eight months he exposed the methods of transportation and the identities of immigration officials who were accepting bribes in return for overlooking fake visas and passports.

Another prizewinning journalist is Musikilu Mojeed from the Nigerian newspaper The Punch. He has revealed several stories about corruption and bribery among politicians, judges and top officials.

Programme for Investigative Reporting in West Africa

In cooperation with the Danish Association of Investigative Journalism (FUJ) and Media Foundation West Africa, IMS has embarked on a Programme for African Investigative Reporting (PAIR), a peer-to-peer programme, which aims to strengthen investigative reporting in West Africa through training, funding and establishing journalism networks. The programme is currently in its pilot phase in five West African countries: Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.

Lack of funding

In general corruption and trafficking is a big problem in West Africa. Research has shown that media are interested in investigative journalism and willing to publish such stories, funding is the big obstacle. Journalists working for independent African media, as well as government-owned media, lack funding for investigative projects. The wages for journalists are generally quite low, in many cases below a living wage which exposes the trade to various forms of dubious payments.

Investigative journalism is also time-consuming compared to news and day-to-day journalism. A journalist may spend several weeks or even months on an investigation in order to get the necessary documents and contacts, double check information, some times travel to other locations, go back to sources several times to double-check facts. During this period the journalist will write and produce considerably less or nothing at all to her/his media. This makes investigative journalism very expensive. But as good investigations enhance the reputation of the media, they will pay off in the long run, also in economic terms.