The Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar together with the Working Committee has jointly launched the third cohort of the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme (MCEP), aimed at addressing the media's capacity challenges in Ghana.

Held at the Ministry of Information’s Press Centre, the launch emphasized the importance of equipping journalists with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively fulfill their role as the fourth estate in Ghana's governance system.

Fatimatu Abubakar stated that the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme was in line with one of the Ministry of Information’s key strategic objectives to improve Civil Society's participation in our national development.

“By addressing the media's capacity challenges, we are empowering journalists to play their role effectively in our democracy”, she said.

Reflecting on the success of previous cohorts, the Minister for Information mentioned that 100 media personnel across the nation have already benefitted from the programme.

The maiden edition, held in Kumasi in January 2022, trained 58 journalists, while the second cohort, held in December 2023 at the University of Media, Arts and Communications (UNIMAC) in Accra, saw 42 participants engage in nine essential journalism modules.

The Chairperson of the Working Committee and Executive Secretary of Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), Gloria, Hiadzi in her address mentioned that this year’s training would target 100 journalists from TV, radio, print, and online media across the nation.

She mentioned that the upcoming elections present unique challenges, and it was imperative that journalists are equipped to report accurately, fairly, and responsibly.

“The additional modules will cover critical areas such as fact-checking, ethical considerations in reporting, understanding electoral processes, and navigating the digital landscape”, Madam Hiadzi explained.

This year’s edition, scheduled for September 10th to 13th, 2024, will adopt a hybrid format, with 40 journalists participating in-person at the UNIMAC Dzorwulu campus and 60 joining online.

Hon. Abubakar encouraged media practitioners and media houses to apply for the training via the link https://forms.office.com/r/by4wMGQ1J8

Stakeholders present at the launch included members of the Working Committee of MCEP, representatives from the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), the National Media Commission (NMC), the Ghana Journalists Association, New partners, including the New Media Association of Ghana, Women in Broadcasting, Alliance for Women in Media Africa, and the Ministry of Information Press Corps