Data Journalism Uptake in the Ghanaian Media: Opportunities, Professional Adaptation and Challenges

This study examines how journalists in the Ghanaian media use datasets, visualization tools, and interactive graphics to strengthen democratic accountability. Using Actor–Network Theory as a guiding framework, we trace how both human and non-human actors come together to shape data journalism. Through in-depth interviews with practitioners, three themes emerged: recognition of the value of data-driven stories, uneven professional adaptation in newsrooms, and persistent barriers to data journalism uptake. Participants described data journalism as a catalyst for trust that enables audiences to compare government claims with verifiable data. They also recount the slow pace of uptake, noting that incomplete open-data infrastructure, limited statistical fluency, and tight budgets of newsrooms often reduce data projects. Drawing on both global and African scholarship, we critically appraised these findings within broader debates about media innovation, transparency, and techno-economic gaps. To make data journalism a regular part of news production in Ghana, we recommend expanding training programs that are tailored to local contexts and open-data policies that ensure timely access to public information. We also suggest integrating data practices into both journalism education and everyday newsroom culture.