GHS 544,000 Legal Support Fund launched to support journalists
By: Mercy Darko A Legal Support Fund for the media has been launched to support journalists and media houses who face legal suits in their line of work. The fund which falls under Africa Media Integrity and Resilience Programme is spearheaded by the Media Foundation for West Africa, MFWA and DW Akademie with funding from […]
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and DW Akademie have launched a Legal Support Fund to assist journalists and media houses facing legal suits during their professional work. Funded by the European Union as part of the Africa Media Integrity and Resilience Programme, the GHS 544,000 fund aims to ensure journalists can access specialized legal counsel and cover legal fees without financial constraints hindering their investigative reporting.
Dr. Kojo Impraim, the Programme Director of MFWA, highlighted the importance of the fund in bolstering press freedom and safeguarding investigative journalism. He urged journalists not to self-censor due to fear of legal repercussions and encouraged them to apply for the fund when facing legal threats. The application process involves filling out an application form within five days, and if accepted, the necessary legal support will be provided within 15 days.
Ama Kodjo, Programme Director for DW Akademie, Ghana, noted that the project will evaluate its impact after two and a half years to determine the effectiveness of the legal support provided. Rebecca Ekpe, Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association, commended the initiative but suggested the involvement of the judiciary and the recognition of new media's need for professionalism in their reporting.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
