Ghanaian investigative outlet, The Fourth Estate has defended its reliance on publicly available data in its reporting, emphasizing that such sources are central to accountability journalism.
Speaking on Dreamz FM, William Jalula, an Associate Editor of The Fourth Estate said the organization’s work is grounded in the use of official records, including reports from state institutions, which are considered credible and authoritative.
“In journalism, when you rely on verified public data from a recognized institution, the responsibility for the accuracy of that data lies with the institution,” he said.
He explained that the group often goes beyond standard practice by cross-checking information with officials before publication, even when using open-source documents.
“Our job is to analyze and highlight inconsistencies or issues of public interest,” Mr Jalula said.
He noted that many investigative reports by the organization have led to official actions, including reviews of government contracts and policy decisions.
According to him, such outcomes demonstrate the importance of independent journalism in ensuring transparency and accountability.
Mr Jalula also pointed to the group’s track record over the past five years, which includes investigations into environmental issues, procurement practices and governance systems.
“Our focus has always been public interest journalism,” he said. “We highlight issues so that institutions can act.”
