IJM CHORT2: JOURNALISTS SCHOOL ON HOW TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN GHANA 

International Justice Mission(IJM) is a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. IJM partners with local authorities in Ghana to combat trafficking and slavery, violence against women and children and police abuse of power.

As part of IJM Ghana’s efforts to build capacity of journalists, IJM with the help of the editors of the media houses to select young journalists from various media houses, radio, television and print media. Through this flagship program themed ” *Equipping The Media To Be Partners In Ending Human Trafficking in Ghana “* journalist have been empowered about the knowledge of Human trafficking.

The journalists came from various regions in Ghana, specifically from destination and source communities noted for trafficking.

In the course of the fellowship program, the facilitators, Mr Will Lathrop, country Director IJM Ghana,Shamima Muslim,the Founder and Convener of the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), Edwin Appiah a Senior Reporter with the Fourth Estate,Yaa Asamoah a member of IJM legal team all came together, educated the Journalists on the various topics which includes the role of the media on human trafficking, best journalism practices, the use of digital tools for media campaigns, creative writing, ethics on human trafficking reportage, the nature of human trafficking in Ghana , some of the key causes of human trafficking and how to apply investigative skills to gather news reportage and be creative on trafficking cases.

The one-year fellowship program had planned programs and activities such as training workshops, coaching sessions, networking events and cohort discussions and a closing ceremony to celebrate their achievements towards the fight against human trafficking in the country within the year.

Some of the Journalists who participated in this year’s young journalists fellowship program organized by IJM were so excited and highlighted that the program was very educative and eye-opening as some of them were emotional on the issue of trafficking on the Volta Lake and the hardship the children had to go through in the hands of their masters.

This year, about 14 young journalists from the various media houses participated in IJM fellowship program and all promised to go back to their various destinations by bringing a change in the society they find themselves in when it comes to human trafficking issues.

The Coordinator of IJM Young Journalists Fellowship program, madam Gifty Etornam Fiagbenya urged all the participants to make good use of the fellowship program because this will help them in building their career as journalists .

Story by Patience Tawiah