The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has set aside approximately GHS 544,000 to establish a Legal Support Fund aimed at protecting journalists and media organisations in Ghana from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). The fund will offer legal assistance to those who face litigation, judicial harassment or other legal challenges arising from legitimate professional work.
The initiative is part of the African Media Integrity and Resilience Programme (AMIRP), a project funded by the European Union and implemented in Ethiopia, Ghana and the Central African Republic. In Ghana, MFWA works with DW Akademie Ghana through International Media Support (IMS) to deliver the programme’s objectives of strengthening public‑interest media capacity and ensuring information integrity.
MFWA’s long‑standing commitment to press freedom and journalist safety underpins the new fund. For almost thirty years the organisation has combined monitoring, advocacy, capacity building and research to protect journalists and hold perpetrators accountable. Key past interventions include the West Africa Network of Activists and Media Defence Lawyers (WANAMDEL), a regional legal support network for journalists and activists.
Eligible applicants may apply via an online form, submitting supporting documents such as court processes, police reports, legal notices, correspondence, publications and other evidence to establish eligibility. The fund provides a dedicated mechanism for Ghanaian journalists to access legal help when confronted with threats stemming from their professional duties.
Alongside the fund, AMIRP is supporting five early‑career female journalists through a 12‑month fellowship that blends intensive training, mentorship and newsroom attachment at MFWA’s public‑interest newsroom, The Fourth Estate. Beginning 14 September 2026, sixty journalists, editors and media managers across Ghana will attend workshops to deepen their understanding of constitutional, legal and regulatory frameworks governing journalism, as well as African and international human rights standards on freedom of expression and journalist safety.
MFWA will also produce a policy research study to assess gaps in journalism and media training curricula in Ghana, and conduct further studies on media ownership, professional standards, journalist safety and legislative gaps in the country’s media governance framework.
For more information, contact MFWA at info@mfwa.org or call +233 302 555327.
