GCGL, two other media houses selected ; To participate in Code for Ghana project

The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) and two other media houses have been selected to participate in the Code for Ghana project, an initiative aimed at promoting innovation in newsrooms.

The GCGL, Ghana News Agency (GNA) and Citi FM will have highly qualified professionals in software development, data analysis, user experience and user interface designers embedded in their newsrooms during the period. 

Code for Ghana is part of the Code for Africa initiative which aims to use open data and technology to promote responsive, innovative and effective governance in its operations. 

Code for Ghana is jointly funded by the African Innovative News Challenge organised by the African Media Initiative and Making All Voices Count with support from the Web Foundation.  

The team of data experts are expected to serve as catalysts and enablers to help create the internal systems and resources necessary to entrench data as a critical component of the Ghanaian newsroom culture.

 They will also be responsible for the creation of open data platform — avenues that afford citizens the privilege of direct access to useful and accurate data.

According to Florence Toffa, the Project Manager, “this project is intended to deepen the democratic atmosphere we are already enjoying as a people. We intend to place the otherwise highly classified information – which need not be so – in the hands of the general public”.

“That is to ensure that they gain adequate understanding of the activities of the government; hence they can make constructive criticism where necessary. Simply put, our aim is to encourage citizen engagement and collective action, which will in turn keep the government on its toes. In the end we will all benefit tremendously,” she said.  

The data analysts will help simplify and represent the data in more understandable forms including graphs, pie charts and maps.

“In so doing, even a cursory glance at the infographics will give the reader a certain level of understanding of what it is all about – as opposed to long tables of figures. Mobile phone applications or online portals could be developed solely to make the information accessible to the general public.”

“The collaboration between the software developers and the media houses will produce a sustained interest in data-driven journalism. This is what we yearn to achieve,” she said. 

“We are pleased by the interest showed by the various media houses that applied to be a part of this project – especially the three selected. The project will commence soon; we hope to team up and work hard enough for the greater good of this country,” she said.