Mahama Pledges GH¢10m Seed Funding for Media Development Fund in 2027 Budget

The government has earmarked GH¢10 million in the 2027 national budget as start-up money for the Media Development Fund, President John Dramani Mahama has announced.

The President made the disclosure at the 30th anniversary edition of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards, as first reported by Citi News.

According to the President, the fund is intended to back the welfare of journalists, their professional growth and investigative work in the media sector.

He reminded the gathering that he had announced the revival of the fund at the previous edition of the awards, the 29th, with goals that also covered digital literacy and safety training for journalists.

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"I am pleased to announce that government has allocated in the 2027 budget GH¢10 million of seed money for the Media Fund," he said.

Beyond the budget allocation, President Mahama said the government would partner the GJA to raise further money from corporate institutions to strengthen the industry.

He said he intended to take a personal role in that effort, naming KGL and the Bank of Ghana among the organisations he plans to approach.

"So KGL, Bank of Ghana, all of you, we are coming to you to contribute to the Media Fund," the President said.

He told media practitioners that government would keep talking with the GJA and other stakeholders so that the pledge results in concrete support for the profession. He added that this would be done while respecting the editorial independence of media houses.

The President also turned his attention to mentoring within newsrooms. He called on seasoned media professionals, especially editors, to create space for younger journalists to build their skills through hands-on work.

Explaining the value of such guidance, he pointed to the example of a young reporter learning to examine public accounts alongside an experienced editor.

"A young journalist who can sit with an editor and work through a set of public accounts will carry that skill into every story that follows," he said.

The GH¢10 million allocation is described as seed money, with the government looking to corporate contributions to expand the fund further.