President John Dramani Mahama has announced a GH¢10 million allocation in the 2027 Budget as seed funding for the reactivation of the Media Development Fund.
The fund is expected to support journalists’ welfare, professional development, investigative reporting, digital literacy and safety training.
Speaking at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra on Saturday, November 7, 2026, President Mahama said the allocation was intended to turn his earlier commitment to revive the fund into practical support for media practitioners.
“At the 29th GJA Media Awards, I announced the reactivation of the Media Development Fund to support journalist welfare, professional development, investigative reporting, digital literacy and safety training. I am pleased to announce that the government has allocated in the 2027 Budget GH¢10 million of seed money for the Media Fund,” he said.
The President also disclosed plans to mobilise additional funding from corporate institutions to strengthen the initiative.
“I shall personally work with the GJA to get several other corporate institutions to contribute to the fund,” he said.
He specifically mentioned KGL Group and the Bank of Ghana as institutions he intended to approach, adding: “So KGL, Bank of Ghana, all of you, we are coming to you to contribute to the Media Fund.”
President Mahama assured journalists that the government would continue working with the GJA and other stakeholders to ensure the fund provides meaningful assistance while respecting editorial independence.
On the safety of media practitioners, he expressed concern about reports of security personnel harassing journalists in the course of their work.
He said journalists must be able to investigate and publish stories without intimidation, censorship or undue interference.
“We’ll continue to take action whenever a media person is unfairly assaulted while performing their duties,” he said.
The President also paid tribute to investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, whose murder remains a painful reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in the pursuit of their work.
“His family deserves justice,” he said.
Touching on the growing influence of digital platforms and artificial intelligence, President Mahama warned that misinformation and fabricated content could spread widely before the facts were established.
He cited instances of misleading videos and AI-generated content falsely portraying him as endorsing investment schemes.
He said he had commissioned the Media Foundation for West Africa and the GJA to undertake consultations and make recommendations on managing the changing media environment.
“We must as a society agree on where we draw the line between free speech, hate speech, and outright insults,” he said.
He, however, stressed that efforts to address misinformation must not undermine legitimate criticism and independent journalism.
“Ghanaians must remain free to challenge their leaders, expose wrongdoing, and express strong opinions,” he stated.
President Mahama further urged media organisations to broaden their coverage beyond politics to include agriculture, business, tourism, culture and other issues affecting ordinary Ghanaians.
He encouraged experienced editors to mentor young journalists by giving them opportunities to develop practical reporting skills.
“I encourage the association and experienced editors to make room for younger reporters to learn this work. 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 said.
The 30th GJA Media Awards was held under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom, and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age.”
