Esther Nkrumah, Nana Boakye Yiadom and Jacqueline Ansomah Yeboah are among 10 journalists selected for the next stage of the UK MEET programme after a competitive story-pitch process.
Three JoyNews journalists have been selected to travel to London for a further round of training and knowledge exchange under the UK Media and Emerging Technologies (UK MEET) programme.
The programme attracted more than 500 applicants, of whom 30 were selected to participate in the fellowship. Following a series of training sessions, practical exercises and newsroom simulations, 16 participants were selected to present their proposed investigative stories before the final 10 were chosen for the UK exchange.
The selected journalists will use the opportunity to deepen their understanding of science, technology and innovation reporting while developing investigations into how emerging technologies could address challenges in Ghana.
Three stories, three areas of public interest
Nana Boakye Yiadom’s proposed investigation will examine whether artificial intelligence can analyse satellite images to detect early signs of illegal mining in Ghana’s forest reserves. The story will explore whether Ghana is ready to invest in the technology and whether it could support a shift from reactive enforcement towards early detection and evidence-based environmental protection.
Esther Nkrumah will investigate the use of drones and artificial intelligence to identify and treat mosquito breeding sites in Ada East as part of efforts to control malaria. Her reporting will examine whether the approach delivers the expected operational benefits, what residents and health workers are experiencing, and whether the intervention can ultimately contribute to reducing malaria infections.
Jacqueline Ansomah Yeboah’s investigation will focus on artificial intelligence tools designed to support senior high school teachers in preparing lesson plans and assessments. The story will test whether the tools produce accurate, curriculum-aligned content and examine their usefulness, limitations and potential implications for teaching and learning in Ghana.
Advancing science and technology reporting
The UK MEET programme is led by Imperial Global Ghana in collaboration with Imperial College London, with support from the British High Commission. It seeks to strengthen the capacity of journalists to report on science, technology and emerging innovations with accuracy, depth and public relevance.
The fellowship has included discussions with researchers, practical reporting exercises and simulations that challenged participants to verify claims, interrogate evidence and communicate complex scientific issues to the public.
The London exchange will build on this experience, providing the selected journalists with a further opportunity to engage with experts and strengthen their reporting on emerging technologies.
For the three JoyNews journalists, the selection marks the next step in developing investigations that examine not only the promise of innovation, but also the evidence behind it and its potential impact on communities