Accra: The Whistleblowers, Activists and Journalists Safety International Center (WAJSIC) has successfully conducted a four-day training program focused on enhancing the skills and safety of investigative journalists and whistleblowers. The initiative, which took place at WAJSIC's headquarters, aimed to equip participants with the necessary tools to carry out their work effectively while ensuring their personal security.
According to Ghana News Agency, the training was part of a series of support initiatives backed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under its Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) program. Funding was provided by the German Cooperation, in collaboration with the European Union and the Swiss Confederation, alongside Ghana's Ministry of Finance.
WAJSIC, a non-profit organization based in Ghana, is renowned for offering protection and support to individuals who face risks due to their efforts in exposing corruption, advocating for human rights, or uncovering injustices. Many participants in the training live in exile or under threat because of their investigative work.
The training, themed 'Safe Investigative Journalism for Journalists Under Threat,' aimed to enhance reporting skills while prioritizing the safety of the attendees. Esteemed investigative journalist Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni led sessions on story selection, evidence verification, legal risk management, and ethics in undercover reporting. The program also included modules on digital, physical, and operational safety to help journalists protect themselves and their sources.
WAJSIC's Executive Director, Mr. Abdoulaye Diallo, and Chief Operations Officer, Mr. Adjapong Benjamin, encouraged participants to view themselves as defenders of democratic accountability. Mr. Diallo emphasized the role of investigative journalism in protecting the public's right to know, even at personal risk.
Mr. Kweku Lartey Obeng, from the PAIReD program of the GIZ, highlighted the importance of building local capacity for independent journalism. He noted that strong democracies rely on fearless truth-telling and that partnerships like this ensure journalists have the necessary tools and protection.
Founder and Chairman of WAJSIC, Mr. Anas Aremeyaw Anas, shared personal insights from his career in undercover journalism, emphasizing the contagious nature of courage and the importance of integrity in journalistic work. A Ghanaian journalist under WAJSIC's protection expressed feeling safe and empowered for the first time in years, having gained valuable tools from the program.
By focusing on both technical skills and personal security, WAJSIC's latest program reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the individuals behind investigative stories and, by extension, the public's access to truth.
