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Panelists at the forum called on journalists to build their capacity to expose economic crimes and harmful tax practices.

They explained that it was important for journalists to have a profound understanding of IFFs, the politics and the narratives to present IFF issues.

The panellists were a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) national consultant on IFFs at the Ghana Statistical Service, Bishop Akolgo; the Chairman of the Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas, Dr Emmanuel Steve Manteaw; a PhD student of the University of Ghana Business School, Legon, Angela Azumah Alu, and the Managing Editor of the Ghana Business News, Emmanuel Dogbevi.

Ms Alu said the fight against IFFs required a holistic approach, noting that it was crucial for the media to hold to account the powerful, including governments, corporate bodies and the wealthy, on curbing IFFs.

Mr Dogbevi indicated that the country was losing more money to IFFs than it received from development aid.

“We do not need aid, since we lose much more money to IFFs than we receive in developmental aid,” he said.

Dr Manteaw urged state institutions to be proactive in working on economic crimes exposed by journalists to move the country forward.

He also urged the government to better resource institutions in charge of investigating economic crimes to discharge their duties, adding that such institutions must be autonomous.

Bishop Akolgo advised journalists to move beyond just acquiring knowledge on IFFs and be dedicated and committed to doing their work.

“Journalists must also build contacts within the industry and practice independent journalism, using media platforms such as YouTube to publish their work,” he noted.

The Director, Research and Advocacy, MFWA, Dr Kojo Impraim, expressed the hope that the forum would help the country achieve Sustainable Development Goals 16 and 17.