Jennifer Ambolley has long wanted to be a journalist — to “educate, heal, and drive meaningful change” through storytelling. Today, she does so in a challenging media environment in her native Ghana.
Ambolley, based in the capital of Accra, covers business and technology, health, and environmental issues for The Chronicle Newspaper.
She credits IJNet with playing a significant role in her professional development. In the interview that follows, Ambolley discusses her background, the state of journalism in Ghana, a defining moment in her career, and more.
Would you tell us a bit about your background?
I was born in 1999 in Accra, Ghana and brought up in a humble Christian home. I am the first of five children. I love to read, I love to talk and watch movies a lot.
I completed junior high school at the age of 15; by the age of 18 I was done with Edinaman Senior High in Elmina, in the Central Region of Ghana. I remember when one of my tutors in senior high school would always say you need to be a journalist, Jennifer; little did they know that I already wanted to be a journalist.
I hold a B.A. in communication studies from the University of Media, Arts and Communication and a diploma in communication studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. I won first prize in the Merck Foundation “Diabetes and Hypertension” Media Recognition Awards 2023 for West Africa, and was nominated for African Print Journalist of the Year at the Ladies in Media Awards, 2023.
Beyond journalism, I am also the founder of the Ye Boafo Foundation, advocating for young girls’ health and rights in marginalized communities.
Why did you decide to become a journalist?
Growing up, I wanted a career that made a real impact. I was deeply troubled by stories of corruption, failing systems, and neglected communities. I often asked, “Why isn’t anyone holding these people accountable?” I considered law and philanthropy, but journalism stood out; it combined truth-seeking with the power to influence change at scale.
My defining moment came in 2023. A friend sought my help to raise funds for a five-year-old girl in urgent need of life-saving surgery. I rushed to the hospital, saw her pain, and knew her story had to be told. That night, I wrote passionately, believing journalism could mobilize support and change lives. But before I could publish the article, she passed away.
Her death broke me. I blamed myself, wondering if I had acted fast enough. That moment transformed my purpose. I realized healthcare challenges weren’t just statistics — they were real people suffering in silence. I decided to dedicate my career to health journalism, using my platform to highlight critical health issues, air pollution, medical costs, and systemic failures.
Since then, I’ve worked tirelessly to inform, advocate, and inspire action. My stories aim not just to report facts but to save lives, influence policies, and amplify unheard voices. Journalism, for me, is no longer just a profession — it is my calling. It is how I honor that little girl’s memory, fight for those without a voice, and ensure that no story goes untold.
Through storytelling, I seek to educate, heal, and drive meaningful change. I could have been a lawyer or a philanthropist, but as a journalist, I can be both: holding power to account while mobilizing hope and solutions for a better world.
How would you describe the media environment in Ghana?
The media environment in Ghana is not the best. The country makes it very difficult to flourish as a journalist.
Personally I want to pursue investigative journalism so much, but I feel that the environment does not make it favorable for me. For example, getting funds to produce investigative pieces is a huge challenge for us as journalists.
Also, some journalists in Ghana are poorly paid, under-resourced, and often lack training. There’s limited knowledge capacity, especially on where to get modern trends in journalism — but we are still thriving, you know. What I have to believe in practicing journalism is that when you silence a journalist, you are silencing dozens of ordinary Ghanaians whose voices are heard through that one journalist.
How has IJNet supported your work?
IJNet has played a significant role in shaping my career as a journalist. I first learned about it in 2021 during a workshop where one of the facilitators, a top journalist at the time, introduced us to the platform. That moment changed my perspective. I realized that gaining experience should come first, and the benefits will follow later. From then on, I made it a habit to visit IJNet every morning, searching for learning opportunities, workshops, fellowships and conferences to help me grow.
Through IJNet, I have had access to life-changing opportunities. I was selected for the Oxford Climate Journalism Network, organized by Oxford University. I also joined the African Investigative Journalism Fellowship, which led me to attend the African Investigative Journalism Conference in Johannesburg in 2024. Additionally, I had the privilege of participating in the United Nations Internet Governance Forum in Saudi Arabia in 2024. IJNet also helped me secure a spot in the Global Press Reporting Certificate program, further enhancing my skills.
Beyond fellowships and conferences, IJNet has connected me with countless online training programs. Some were so impactful that I can still recall them vividly, while others became part of my continuous learning journey. It has truly been a game-changer for me as a journalist.
Whenever colleagues ask how I find these opportunities, my answer is always the same: “Go to the internet, especially IJNet. The opportunities are there, waiting for you.” While some opportunities come to us, we must also actively seek them out. For me, IJNet is a go-to resource, and I will continue visiting it every morning because I have seen firsthand the tremendous impact it has had on my career.
What does it mean to be featured as IJNet’s Journalist of the Month?
IJNet is a huge platform. My career in journalism is taking shape and being recognized as IJNet’s Journalist of the Month is an honor and a validation of my work in journalism.
It is an opportunity for me to continue to highlight pressing issues, share my experiences, and inspire other young journalists. This recognition also strengthens my commitment to impactful storytelling.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I want my colleagues to know that you must not stop learning. We must continue to seek opportunities to refine our skills. I know it gets tough but we should always remember that the little effort we make goes a long way to make an impact in the life of ordinary people.
This interview has been edited lightly.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Ambolley.
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