Investigative journalism in Ghana: Significance, techniques and ethical concerns in subterfuge and data-driven reporting

Investigative journalism has become a crucial practice that demands accountability from those in positions of power. However, despite its importance, it continues to grapple with challenges in the pursuit of truth. This study, guided by Critical African Journalism Theory and employing semi-structured interviews, explored investigative journalism in Ghana, focusing on the significance, techniques, and ethical concerns. The study reveals that investigative journalism plays a pivotal role in democratic societies by exposing corruption, promoting accountability, and contributing to policy formulation. Participants of the study noted a lack of cooperation from state institutions in fighting corruption. Subterfuge and data journalism emerged as key techniques in investigative journalism. However, the ethical concerns relating to subterfuge, which lead to potential risks such as privacy violations and defamation, raise several questions about the balance between journalistic integrity and obtaining critical information for the public. The study proposes the Communal Accountability Model (CAM), which explains how journalists in fragile democracies navigate the demands of activism, ethics and accountability.