MTN Ghana has organised a hands-on training programme for media practitioners and civil society organisation (CSO) representatives to enhance their understanding and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism and public-interest work.
The masterclass, held today, August 24, 2026, at MTN House in Accra, was themed “AI for Media & Civil Society: From AI Curiosity to Evidence-Driven Confidence.”
It brought together newsroom leaders, journalists and CSO practitioners and focused on practical ways of using AI in investigative journalism, data analysis, breaking news reporting, transcription and content production.
The training also highlighted the need for human oversight to ensure accuracy, ethical reporting and protection of confidential information in the use of AI technologies.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Mr Kwame Manu, Senior Manager of Digital Analytics and Monetisation at MTN Ghana, said AI had an important role to play in shaping public discourse responsibly.
“AI should help us see further, decide better, and include more people,” he said, adding that the media and civil society had an important responsibility to protect public trust and promote transparent governance.
The training was facilitated by Mr Samuel S. K. Adranyi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Afrilogic Solutions and Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), and Mr Nehemia Yelu Attigah, CEO of HatuaTech and Board Chair of BudgIT Foundation.
The facilitators demonstrated how AI tools could be used to analyse lengthy public financial documents, including Bank of Ghana monetary policy reports and national budget statements.
Participants were shown how AI could help identify key figures, calculate year-on-year changes and highlight significant economic developments.
However, the facilitators stressed that information generated by AI must be checked against original sources before publication to ensure accuracy and proper context.
They described the verification of AI-generated information as a critical requirement for journalists and other professionals using the technology in their work.
Another session focused on the use of AI in breaking news situations, where participants were taken through ways of organising information from press releases, social media reports and official agency statements.
The facilitators encouraged participants to ensure that unconfirmed casualty figures, damage assessments and other claims were clearly flagged and independently verified before publication.
Participants were also introduced to AI-assisted workflows for converting audio recordings from parliamentary proceedings, press conferences and public addresses into written content.
The facilitators said journalists could use AI to assist with transcription in local languages such as Twi and Ga, extract policy commitments, prepare timestamped quotations and develop news stories, subject to human verification.
They, however, cautioned that AI should not replace editorial judgment, particularly in matters involving cultural nuances, local expressions, emotional context and sensitive information.
The facilitators said journalists must retain control over editorial decisions, including whether to publish, hold or reject a story.
They also stressed the need for journalists to exercise caution when dealing with unconfirmed suspects or victims, minors, legally sensitive matters and confidential sources.
On data protection, participants were taken through key considerations before uploading sensitive documents to AI platforms, including potential harm to individuals, data-retention policies, account ownership and the need to anonymise information.
They were also encouraged to consider using dummy data or keeping particularly sensitive assignments offline where necessary to protect confidential sources and sensitive information.
During practical exercises, participants cross-referenced Auditor-General extracts, budget lines and ministry statements to trace public funds and identify gaps in policy implementation.
The exercises demonstrated how AI could support professionals in processing large volumes of information while maintaining human-led verification and accountability.
The training ultimately emphasised that while AI could improve efficiency in journalism and civil society work, human judgment, verification and editorial responsibility remained essential.
The programme formed part of efforts to promote informed and responsible adoption of emerging technologies among professionals who play a critical role in public accountability, journalism and governance.
