The Africa Extractives Media Fellowship (AEMF) was on Monday, Oct. 28, 2025, officially launched at the Australian High Commission in Accra, marking a significant step towards strengthening journalism in the extractive sector. Speaking at the launch, Program Lead, Kwakye Afreh-Nuama,h revealed that the six-month fully in-person fellowship, spearheaded by NewsWire Africa, attracted over 300 applications from journalists across Ghana. He noted that the initiative aims to equip 30 selected participants, with 60% being women, to be trained with practical skills in data-driven reporting, sustainability, and gender-sensitive journalism. According to Mr. Afreh-Nuamah, the fellowship would help nurture “a new generation of African journalists equipped to shape the continent’s extractive narrative with courage, accuracy, and empathy.” For her part, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, commended NewsWire Africa and the Australian High Commission for the fellowship program, describing it as a model of international collaboration and national development.
She emphasized that government remains committed to ensuring that Ghana’s extractive resources benefit both current and future generations, highlighting transparency, inclusion, and youth empowerment as critical pillars of democratic growth. The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Berenice Owen-Jones, underscored the importance of media in promoting accountability and peace. “A responsive and inclusive media does more than inform, it holds power to account and fosters peace through understanding,” she said. She disclosed that, over 500 Ghanaians have benefited from Australian Government scholarships, underscoring the strong educational and professional ties between the two nations. Also in attendance was the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, who urged journalists to prioritize ethical reporting, gender inclusion, and accountability in their coverage of Africa’s extractive industries.
Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo
The AEMF, through hands-on training, mentorship, and field exposure, is expected to bridge the knowledge gap in extractive sector reporting, fostering transparency and amplifying the voices of communities impacted by resource activities.