In Ghana's Eastern Region, the cost of treatment and misconceptions about oral health can keep people from getting dental care. Ghanaian Times journalist Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman wants to investigate those barriers. She has been selected for the UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technologies Fellowship, which she says will strengthen her health and science reporting.
Thirty participants from Ghana were selected for the programme. Applicants came from Ghana and Nigeria, including journalists and content creators. The reported selection rate was about 13 per cent of more than 500 applicants, according to MyJoyOnline's fellowship report.
Before the in-person training, fellows completed an online Zero Week introducing them to the programme, instructors and fellow participants.
Training in evidence and technology reporting
Imperial College London delivered the fellowship through Imperial Global Ghana, with support from the British High Commission. Its residential training in Accra ran from October 11 to 17, 2026. The opening session was reported on October 12. Fellows met researchers working in artificial intelligence. They also met researchers focused on climate change and health technology.
The programme taught participants to scrutinise scientific and technological claims and verify information. Fellows learned to identify relevant data, then explain complex developments clearly. At the opening, Associate Director of Imperial Global Ghana Amma Boakye-Dankwa stressed journalists' role in helping the public understand new technologies and research. The opening-day account also highlighted the need to counter misinformation. It called for evidence to be communicated in accessible language. Editorial clinics helped fellows refine story ideas and plan for publication. The programme also offered a chance to build regional professional networks.
Fellows will pitch original science and technology story ideas. The ten participants with the strongest concepts may receive a fully funded knowledge-exchange trip to Imperial College London.
For Ampadu Agyeman, the training will have to help turn complex issues into useful reporting for the communities affected by them.
Investigating delays in dental care
Her proposed project would look at why some residents postpone dental treatment. She plans to examine the cost of services, misconceptions about oral health and limited awareness of the consequences of untreated gum disease. She also hopes to assess scientific evidence on links between periodontal disease and chronic conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, as well as other potentially serious complications. The source describes a planned investigation, not a completed study or a finding about residents' health.
Ampadu Agyeman said she intends to strengthen her research and data interpretation skills. She also plans to sharpen her fact-checking and consult researchers and scientists. Health professionals will be another source of reliable information. She hopes her reporting will help the public understand scientific issues and make informed decisions.
