The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), in partnership with the Ghana Audit Service and with support from the Hewlett Foundation, has organised a two-day media training workshop in Accra for journalists from the Southern Zone.

The zone comprises the Greater Accra, Oti, Volta, Eastern, Western, and Central Regions.

The workshop was designed to build the capacity of media practitioners to critically analyse and report on the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report.

Participants received practical training on understanding audit findings, identifying financial irregularities, and producing investigative stories that promote public accountability.

Resource persons from the Ghana Audit Service, alongside an experienced investigative journalist, facilitated interactive sessions on interpreting financial data, tracking the implementation of audit recommendations, and communicating complex audit issues in ways that keep citizens informed about the use of public resources.

Opening the session, the Executive Secretary of GACC, Mrs Beauty Emefa Narteh, emphasised the media’s pivotal role in advancing transparency and accountability.

“The Auditor-General’s Report is not just a document, but an accountability tool. Journalists have the power to turn these findings into stories that protect the public purse,” she noted.

Participants lauded the training, describing it as timely and empowering. They stressed that the knowledge gained would enhance their ability to produce clear, accurate, and impactful reports that foster transparency in public financial management.

The Southern Zone training in Accra marks the first in a three-part series, with subsequent sessions planned for Tamale and Kumasi, ensuring nationwide engagement with the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report.