Award-winning journalist Clinton Yeboah of The Multimedia Group Limited has been named one of the 2026 Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking and OSINT Fellows, as announced by Dubawa. Yeboah is one of three Ghanaians and 13 journalists selected across Africa for the eighth edition of this significant program, aimed at bolstering fact-checking and combating misinformation.
Fellowship Strengthens Verification Skills Across West Africa
The announcement follows an intensive three-day training event that gathered journalists from various West African newsrooms. Sessions focused on critical skills such as fact-checking methodologies, media literacy, verification tools, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques, ethical reporting, and strategies to combat the spread of misinformation in the digital age.
Clinton Yeboah brings over four years of experience from Ghana’s largest media network, working across Joy News TV, Adom TV, Joy FM, and Luv FM. He currently leads the disability and technology desk at Luv FM, where his reporting has significantly amplified awareness of disability inclusion and human rights issues.
Yeboah’s journalistic achievements include two Ghana Journalists Association awards, a nomination for WAMECA 2025, and a second-place finish in the 2023 AIPS Young Reporters Broadcasting Awards for Africa. His selection highlights his commitment to accurate and impactful reporting.
Dubawa’s Commitment to Combating Information Disorder
The Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking and OSINT Fellowship was established to enhance verification, promote accountability journalism, and strengthen the fight against misinformation throughout West Africa. Named in honor of Professor Kwame Karikari, a respected Ghanaian media scholar and advocate for press freedom, the fellowship equips journalists with essential skills for the digital information landscape.
Now in its eighth year, the program has become a vital intervention in addressing the growing challenge of information disorder across the region. A key component of the fellowship is the integration of OSINT techniques, which complement robust fact-checking training. These skills enable fellows to trace digital footprints, authenticate user-generated content, and uncover coordinated disinformation campaigns online.
Beyond technical proficiencies, the fellowship emphasizes an ethical approach to fact-checking, recognizing its role as a public service that protects vulnerable communities from the harms of false information. A recent study indicated that the annual fellowship has demonstrably improved participants’ verification and investigative abilities, contributing to stronger local fact-checking ecosystems and more credible public discourse in West Africa.
Future Contributions and Implications
In the coming months, fellows like Yeboah will be paired with expert mentors and will produce fact-checks and OSINT reports. They will also receive a monthly stipend, enabling them to dedicate more time to their work and significantly contribute to strengthening credible information ecosystems across the continent.
This fellowship underscores the increasing need for specialized skills in verifying information and combating disinformation, especially as digital platforms become more pervasive. The focus on OSINT provides journalists with powerful tools to navigate the complexities of online information and hold purveyors of falsehoods accountable.
For readers and the broader media industry, the work of these fellows means a more reliable flow of information and a stronger defense against the erosion of trust caused by misinformation. The skills honed through the Kwame Karikari Fellowship are crucial for maintaining informed public discourse and supporting democratic processes. The ongoing success of this program suggests a growing regional commitment to journalistic integrity and the pursuit of truth in the digital age.
Leave a Reply