Unmasking Corruption in Africa
Understanding the Challenges Investigative Journalism Faces in Reporting Political Corruption in Ghana
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 14816245 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Richard Andoh (0000-0003-1530-9249, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 31-58 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-06 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | AVRUG-bulletin/Afrika Focus (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0772-0793 • E-ISSN: 0772-084X |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1163/2031356x-20250103 |
| OpenAlex | W4411254927 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 17 |
Ghana is often lauded as a success story of liberal democracy in Africa. However, the persistence of corruption, particularly political corruption, poses a significant obstacle to the gains of democratic success. The fight against corruption has not been left solely to the government. Under the umbrella of investigative journalism, the media and individual investigative journalists have bolstered efforts to combat corruption. However, reporting on corruption presents numerous barriers for investigative journalists in Ghana, with media ownership being a significant factor. Media ownership influences media outlets’ editorial independence and financial stability, affecting the extent and depth of investigative reporting. Drawing on media ownership theory, this study seeks to ascertain the challenges that investigative journalists face in reporting political corruption in Ghana. The article draws on qualitative research, including in-depth structured interviews, to provide insights into this social phenomenon. The findings reveal that funding problems, political interference, media ownership, access to information and death threats are the key challenges faced by investigative journalists in Ghana. The conclusion discusses the implications of these findings for urgent and relevant policy reform, underlining the pressing need for immediate action. This article contributes to the theoretical debate about the effectiveness of investigative journalism in combating corruption in Ghana
Art · Criminology · Journalism · Language change · Literature · Political corruption · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Economic Growth and Development · Gender, Education, and Development Issues · Law
Investigative journalism in ghana
Assessing safety of journalism practice in Ghana
Saturation in Qualitative Educational Technology Research
Critical approaches to the media
Democracy’s Detectives
Investigative Journalism and Scandal Reporting in the Nigerian Press
Investigative journalism and anti-corruption
How Can the Private Media Be Strengthened to Investigate and Expose Corruption in Ghana? Understanding Ghanaian Perspectives
Constraints and limitations of investigative journalism in Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Romania
Disclosure of Scandinavian telecom companies’ corruption in Uzbekistan
The erosion of media freedom in Ghana
What role do social accountability actors play in resisting media capture in sub-Saharan Africa? Evidence from Ghana
Can private media contribute to fighting political corruption in sub-Saharan Africa? Lessons from Ghana
The Developmental State Experiment in Africa
Media Reforms and Democratization in Emerging Democracies of Sub-Saharan Africa
Reporting in Latin America
What Are the Key Drivers of Persistent Ghanaian Political Corruption
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |