The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), in partnership with the Ghana Audit Service, has launched an intensive two-day training to sharpen journalists’ ability to interpret and report on the 2024 Auditor-General’s report, a move aimed at elevating public discourse on governance and financial accountability.
Funded by the Hewlett Foundation, the workshop is part of GACC’s Building Evidence for Increased Accountability in Ghana through a Multi stakeholder Accountability Initiative project. The initiative seeks to move the media from headline-chasing to evidence-driven investigations that can meaningfully influence governance reform.
GACC Executive Secretary, Beauty Emefa Narteh, challenged journalists to take a deeper approach.
“It’s time for media personnel to move beyond sensationalism. We must delve into the key components of the Auditor-General’s report, addressing issues that impact our nation’s governance, including the conduct of public office holders.”
The first day’s sessions demystified the often technical Auditor-General’s findings, with experts walking participants through how to interpret financial irregularities, spot governance weaknesses, and track whether recommendations are being implemented.
Separating Facts from Perceptions
Frederick Lokko, Right to Information Officer at the Audit Service, reminded journalists that the Service’s mandate is clear, to report on financial irregularities, not to declare funds lost or unrecoverable.
“Understanding the nuances of these reports is vital for journalists. We urge you to meticulously study the Auditor-General’s findings and follow up on the implementation of its recommendations.” Lokko stressed.
Assistant Auditor-General, Patrick Neequaye, added important context on how irregularities are often misconstrued in public discourse:
“Cash irregularities might suggest financial mismanagement, but they do not necessarily mean that money has been lost. These findings highlight the challenges we face in dealing with state agencies and corporations.”
A Push for Probing Journalism
Discussions throughout the day underscored the media’s role in holding public officials to account through well-informed, follow-up reporting. Journalists were encouraged to identify sections of the report that point to systemic weaknesses or inefficiencies, and to treat them as starting points for sustained investigation.
By the close of the first day, there was a tangible sense of mission among participants a readiness to translate complex audit data into stories that empower citizens and pressure institutions to act.
For the GACC and Ghana Audit Service, the goal is clear: ensure the Auditor-General’s work doesn’t gather dust on a shelf, but instead becomes a catalyst for meaningful reform in public financial management.
