Africa Extractives Media Fellowship Launches in Accra to Empower Next Generation of Journalists

By: Sarah Adwoa Akuetteh:

The Africa Extractives Media Fellowship (AEMF) was officially launched on Monday, October 28, 2025, at the Australian High Commission in Accra, marking a significant step toward strengthening journalism in Africa’s extractive sector.

Speaking at the launch, Program Lead Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah revealed that the six-month fully in-person fellowship, spearheaded by NewsWire Africa, attracted over 300 applications from journalists across Ghana.

He noted that the initiative aims to equip 30 selected participants 60 percent of whom are women with practical skills in data-driven reporting, sustainability, and gender-sensitive journalism.

According to Mr. Afreh-Nuamah, the fellowship seeks to nurture “a new generation of African journalists equipped to shape the continent’s extractive narrative with courage, accuracy, and empathy.”

A Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, who graced the event, commended the program as a model of international collaboration and national development.

She emphasized that government remains committed to ensuring that Ghana’s extractive resources benefit both current and future generations, highlighting transparency, inclusion, and youth empowerment as critical pillars of democratic growth.

The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Berenice Owen-Jones, underscored the importance of media in promoting accountability and peace. “A responsive and inclusive media does more than inform it holds power to account and fosters peace through understanding,” she said. She also noted that over 500 Ghanaians have benefited from Australian Government scholarships, underscoring the strong educational and professional ties between both nations.

Also in attendance was the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, who urged journalists to prioritize ethical reporting, gender inclusion, and accountability in their coverage of Africa’s extractive industries.

The AEMF, through hands-on training, mentorship, and field exposure, is expected to bridge the knowledge gap in extractive sector reporting, fostering transparency and amplifying the voices of communities impacted by resource activities.