Recognising that if young people are informed of their rights, they will be in a better position to demand those rights from duty bearers responsible for giving it to them, the Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) is partnering with Czech Aid under the TRANSITION Grant of the Czech Republic to advance responsible citizen journalism in Ghana.
Since 2023, YBF has partnered with the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ghana to build the capacities of youth to become responsible citizen journalists, enabling them to report on development issues within their communities. This initiative equips community youth, regardless of their prior experience in journalism with skills to report responsibly and combat the spread of misinformation and advance accountability, particularly at local levels.
Across Ghana, civic participation among youth is often hindered by limited understanding of their civic rights and responsibilities. This gap not only weakens democratic accountability but also silences voices that could shape policies and demand better governance. The Citizen Journalism Project directly addresses this by training young participants to use responsible citizen journalism to investigate and document how their peers understand civic rights and responsibilities at local and national levels.
The 2025 edition introduces a research-based approach where participants will conduct qualitative interviews, analyse the findings, and identify key knowledge gaps. These insights will guide the delivery of targeted civic education sessions in both the northern and southern zones of Ghana.
The project will also support youth journalists to transform their work into engaging knowledge products including multimedia stories to spark conversation and promote active citizenship.
Through this partnership, YBF and the Czech Republic reaffirm their commitment to building an informed and engaged generation of citizens. By equipping young people with the skills and knowledge to report responsibly, understand their rights, and embrace their responsibilities, we hope to strengthen the foundation of Ghana’s democracy and ensure its future remains peaceful, participatory, and youth-driven.