Our collaborative investigation of Ghana, Switzerland carbon credit deal nominated for Zurich Journalism Prize

In September 2025 we finally published an eight-month investigation that looked deeply into an existing carbon credit agreement between Ghana and Switzerland. The collaboration involved three journalists in Ghana, Switzerland and The Netherlands. Emmanuel K Dogbevi of Ghana Business News, Tina Berg of Beobachter, a major Swiss news magazine and Dutch freelance journalist, Hans Ariens.

Last week, the Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation announced finalists for its 2026 journalism awards and the Swiss version of the story is one of the 12 stories nominated. Nine of the stories are competing for the main awards, and three are in the newcomer category.

“This is thrilling and refreshing to hear. Especially so because this nomination is a recognition of the hard work that went into the investigation,” says Dogbevi.

In a press statement issued out of Zurich, the Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation said since its inception in 1980, it has been recognizing works “that leave a lasting impression and represent outstanding journalism.”

The seven-member jury shortlisted the 12 works after reviewing 201 submissions from across media in Switzerland.

Our investigation looked into a clean cookstoves project that the Swiss government is funding in Ghana. Our findings are published here in the Ghana version of the investigation titled: “The Swiss financed carbon credit project in Ghana partners don’t want to talk about”

The award ceremony will take place on May 12, 2026, at the Kaufleuten in Zurich, Switzerland, be hosted by Nina Jecker, President of the Foundation Board, and Larissa Rhyn, a member of the jury. Professor of Ethics Peter G. Kirchschläger will deliver the keynote address on the topic of “AI – End or New Beginning of Human Labor? An Ethical Perspective.”