A new continental initiative designed to elevate journalism and advance good governance in Africa’s extractive industries has been launched in Accra.
The Africa Extractives Media Fellowship (AEMF), established by NewsWire Africa in collaboration with the Australian High Commission in Ghana, aims to build a network of skilled journalists equipped to drive transparency, accountability, and informed public dialogue on the management of natural resources.
The Fellowship brings together journalists, academics, policymakers, and industry experts in a collaborative learning and mentorship space.
Speaking at the launch in Accra on Tuesday 28 October, 2028, AEMF Programme Lead, Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah, said the fellowship emerged from a conviction that responsible, data-driven journalism is essential to how Africa manages and benefits from its vast mineral wealth.
“For too long, narratives about Africa’s resources have been dominated by boardrooms and policy tables, communities most affected by mining, oil, gas, and green mineral projects are often left out of the story. The AEMF seeks to change that by equipping journalists to tell stories that shape policy, challenge power, and amplify local voices.”
Over 300 applications, more than ten times the available slots, including entries from journalists in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda — a strong indication of growing regional interest in extractives reporting.
The inaugural cohort is focused on Ghanaian journalists, even as the organisers confirmed plans to expand the Fellowship’s reach across Africa in the near future.
Over a six-month period, Fellows will receive hands-on training in data journalism, environmental reporting, governance frameworks, gender equity, and community development within the extractive sector.
A key feature of the Fellowship is its mentorship component, connecting participants directly with global experts in journalism, research, sustainability, and economics.
Partners of the initiatives includes, Ghana Chamber of Mines, Digital Earth Africa, University of Ghana Business School, University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Ayatickets, and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP).
Australia’s High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Berenice Owen-Jones, lauded the programme as a vital contribution to transparency and good governance in Africa’s resource economies, commending NewsWire Africa’s leadership.
Dignitaries present at the launch includes, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Administration, Nana Oye Bampoe who represented the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, and Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Andrews Tandoh.
With its emphasis on cross-sector collaboration, ethical storytelling, and data-driven reporting, the Africa Extractives Media Fellowship is expected to play a critical role in reshaping the continent’s natural resource governance narrative grounded in evidence, empathy, and accountability.
