Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Documenting Ghanaian Democracy:Creating Wikipedia Articles on 50 Ghanaian MPs (ID: 23437348)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
sweetabena
- Organization
N/A
- If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)
N/A
- Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)
Main Proposal
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
Documenting Ghanaian Democracy: Creating Wikipedia Articles on 50 Ghanaian MPs
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-08-01 - 2025-10-31
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Ghana
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
Not applicable
- 6. What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change or challenges, as well as main approaches to achieve it. (required)
Wikipedia has a significant gap regarding the representation of Ghanaian Members of Parliament (MPs). Many of them either lack Wikipedia articles entirely or have incomplete and poorly sourced biographies. This limits public access to accurate, neutral, and freely available information about the people shaping Ghana’s democracy.
The change I aim to bring is twofold:
Improve content by creating well-researched Wikipedia articles for 50 Ghanaian MPs, ensuring that their contributions to national development are documented and accessible.
Build local capacity by training new and existing Wikipedia editors—especially young people and students—on how to contribute effectively to political and biographical content on Wikipedia.
Key challenges include:
Limited availability of well-organized, verifiable information online
Underrepresentation of African political figures on Wikipedia
A lack of skilled editors who are confident contributing to this content area
My approach will include:
Conducting a training session and edit-a-thon to equip participants with skills in article creation, sourcing, and Wikipedia’s content guidelines
Using reliable sources such as official government websites, parliamentary records, and reputable news outlets
Monitoring and improving article quality throughout the project
Encouraging new editors to continue contributing beyond the project timeframe
By addressing both content gaps and editor participation, this project contributes to the broader goal of documenting Ghanaian democracy and strengthening local involvement in the Wikimedia movement.
- 7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.
Planned Activities:
The project will run from August 1 to October 31, 2025, and will involve the following key activities:
1. Project Launch & Preparation (August 1–7)
Finalize a list of 80 Ghanaian Members of Parliament to be covered.
Gather reliable sources from Parliament records and credible Ghanaian media.
Recruit volunteers and new editors for the project.
2. Wikipedia Editing Training (August 8–14)
Host a hands-on training workshop (in-person and virtual) for 10 new editors.
Introduce participants to Wikipedia's notability guidelines, sourcing standards, and editing best practices.
Cover how to create biographical articles and link them with Wikidata.
3. Article Creation & Improvement (August 15 – September 30)
Team members and trained editors will draft and publish articles on Wikipedia.
The goal is to produce 6–10 articles per week, totaling 80 new or significantly improved biographies of Ghanaian MPs.
4. Quality Control & Wikidata Integration (October 1–15)
Review all articles for quality, verifiability, and neutrality.
Add citations, perform copy edits, and link all articles to Wikidata.
Articles will also be considered for translation into at least one local language (e.g., Twi), if possible.
5. Peer Review & Final Edits (October 16–25)
Facilitate peer reviews among editors and make final improvements based on feedback.
Project Closeout (October 26–31)
Compile metrics (article count, editor contributions, retention, Wikidata links).
Document lessons learned and challenges encountered.
Submit final project report to Wikimedia Foundation.
Why these activities?
These steps were chosen to ensure both high-quality content creation and sustainable editor growth. The training ensures new editors gain confidence and skill, while structured article production and review timelines ensure reliability and accuracy in published content.
- 8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.
Project Team This project will be led by a dedicated team based in Ghana, consisting of a project coordinator and one research assistant, along with trained volunteer editors.
1. John Essien (User:Sweetabena) Role: Project Lead / Coordinator Status: Part-time (Stipend) John is an experienced Wikipedia editor based in Kumasi, Ghana. He has led and facilitated previous Wikipedia trainings for students and first-time editors, focusing on notability, sourcing, and article creation. He will manage overall project coordination, article quality review, training facilitation, and reporting. John brings expertise in Ghanaian content creation on Wikipedia and community engagement.
2. Kwae Boafo Awuku (User:Ataavi)
Role: Research Assistant
Status: Part-time (Stipend)
Kwae is a highly active Wikipedia contributor with over 5,900 edits and is a member of several advanced user groups, including new page reviewer, IP block exempt, and extended confirmed user. His experience with biographical articles and content quality will be valuable in researching reliable sources, drafting articles, and ensuring compliance with Wikipedia's notability and content policies.
3. Benjamin Owiredu (User:Obengjennifer) Role: Research Assistant Status: Part-time (Stipend) This assistant will help with gathering sources, article drafting, and Wikidata linking. He will also support the training workshop and assist in final content reviews and reporting.
4. Volunteer Editors (10 participants) Role: Wikipedia Editors Status: Volunteers (with modest token stipends) These volunteers will be trained in article creation and editing. They will actively contribute to building and improving articles on Ghanaian MPs and support peer review.
All team members have confirmed their roles and are aware of their involvement in this project and grant proposal.
- 9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)
Who are the target participants and from which community?
The target participants are young people, students, civic-minded individuals, and digital volunteers from Kumasi and other parts of Ghana who are interested in open knowledge, Ghanaian politics, or digital documentation. Some may be completely new to Wikipedia, while others may have limited editing experience and are looking to grow their skills in biographical writing and sourcing.
This project will also engage existing Ghanaian Wikimedia community members who are interested in political or biographical content, including members of user groups like Wikimedia Ghana User Group and affiliated open knowledge enthusiasts.
How will you engage participants before and during the activities?
Before the project, we will:
Announce the initiative through personal networks, social media, and Wikimedia Ghana community channels.
Reach out to student groups and civic tech communities.
Recruit and screen interested volunteers who are passionate about contributing to Wikipedia.
During the project, we will:
Conduct an in-person and virtual training session on how to edit Wikipedia, with a focus on writing quality biographies and citing reliable sources.
Provide ongoing mentorship and peer support as participants create and improve articles.
Share editing guides and resource folders to help participants feel confident in their contributions.
How will you follow up with participants after the activities? After the project, we will:
Stay in contact with participants through WhatsApp and Telegram groups created during the project.
Share editing opportunities and invite them to join future Wikimedia events in Ghana.
Encourage them to continue editing independently and possibly join Wikimedia Ghana User Group or other affiliate groups.
Conduct an informal feedback and reflection session to document their learning and growth.
The goal is not only to produce content, but also to build and retain new contributors in the Ghanaian Wikimedia community.
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
No
- 10.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.
N/A
- 11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.
I shared the idea for this project with the Wikimedia community by posting a public draft of the proposal on Meta-Wiki and inviting feedback. I also informed the Wikimedia Ghana User Group by posting a message on their talk page to encourage local involvement and suggestions. These steps ensure the project is transparent, open for collaboration, and aligned with the values of the Wikimedia movement.
While the proposal was initially developed individually, I have now taken steps to involve the community before submission by:
Publishing the draft on Meta-Wiki to make the goals and activities visible
Sharing the project idea with the Ghanaian Wikimedia community to explore opportunities for alignment and peer support
Remaining open to feedback, collaboration, and potential involvement from other local editors and organizers
This project complements the broader movement goal of increasing content equity by focusing on underrepresented African political figures. It also aligns with the interests of local Wikimedians working on biographical content and civic knowledge.
Links to on-wiki discussions and draft:
Draft Proposal on Meta-Wiki: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Project/Rapid/John_Essien/Documenting_Ghanaian_Democracy
Community Discussion Post (Wikimedia Ghana User Group): https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Ghana_User_Group#Draft_Grant_Proposal:_Documenting_Ghanaian_Democracy
- 12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Geography
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Culture, heritage or GLAM
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Geographic
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Identify Topics for Impact
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through this project, I hope to learn the following:
1. What are the most effective methods for training new Wikipedia editors in biographical article creation? I want to understand which training formats (in-person vs. virtual, peer review vs. live demo, etc.) lead to more confident and active contributors.
2. What are the most common challenges in documenting political figures from underrepresented regions? I aim to identify difficulties such as lack of reliable sources, editorial bias concerns, or community pushback — and how to navigate them.
3. Does creating political biographies help increase civic engagement or awareness among participants? I’d like to learn whether editing content about public figures increases participants’ interest in civic knowledge, local governance, or public accountability.
4. What motivates trained editors to continue contributing after the project ends? This will help inform future strategies for retention and long-term community building in Ghana
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 15 | The project will involve 10 new participants who will be trained to edit Wikipedia for the first time, focusing on biographies of Ghanaian MPs.
In addition, the project team (project lead, 2 research assistants) and 2–3 experienced editors from the local community will support training, peer review, and content validation. |
| Number of editors | 13 | We expect 10 participants to create new accounts and begin editing Wikipedia as part of the training workshop. Additionally, the project lead and two research assistants are returning editors who will actively contribute to article creation, sourcing, and Wikidata linking. |
| Number of organizers | 4 | The organizers include the project lead, two research assistants, and one experienced editor who will support training and peer review. All of them will be actively involved in planning, facilitation, editing oversight, and community engagement throughout the project period. |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 50 |
| Wikimedia Commons | |
| Wikidata | 50 |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
The project aims to create or significantly improve 80 Wikipedia articles about Ghanaian Members of Parliament. Each article will be properly cited and linked to its corresponding Wikidata item. If images become available under open licenses, a few files may also be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, but this is not the core focus of the project.
- 19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)
Yes
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of articles retained (not deleted): 95%+ | In addition to Wikimedia's core metrics, we will track training outcomes, article retention, and ongoing engagement by new editors. These will help us understand the long-term impact and sustainability of the project within the Ghanaian editing community. | 95 |
| Number of editors still active one month after project – 5 | This metric tracks how many of the newly trained editors continue editing Wikipedia at least once within a month after the official end of the project. It will help measure participant retention and the long-term impact of the training. | N/A |
| Number of peer review rounds – 2 | This refers to organized review sessions where editors read and provide feedback on each other’s drafted articles before final publishing or submission. These peer review rounds will help improve article quality, ensure adherence to Wikipedia guidelines, and encourage collaboration among participants. | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
- 20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)
To measure our core and custom metrics, I plan to use the following tools:
1. Outreach Dashboard To track:
Number of participants (new and returning)
Number of edits, pages created or improved
Individual editor contributions I will set up a project dashboard at: https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/
2. Event Metrics Tool To generate reports after the training or edit-a-thons and track:
Total content contributions (articles, words added, etc.)
Number of editors and retention Tool: https://eventmetrics.wmflabs.org/
3. Pageviews Analysis Tool To track views for newly created or improved Wikipedia articles over time: Tool: https://pageviews.toolforge.org/
4. Wikidata Query Service (SPARQL) To check whether created articles are properly linked to Wikidata and validate Wikidata edits: Tool: https://query.wikidata.org/
5. Manual Tracking (Google Sheets) For some custom metrics ( peer reviews conducted, training session attendance, and post-project editor retention), I will use internal tracking tools like Google Sheets.
I am confident using these tools, but I’m also open to technical support or training from the Wikimedia Foundation if needed.
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
This is the link to the full budget breakdown for the project:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1w5jtimJnZ8b8Qb0Ta5kgE7uoPUAnJzMwx3d1uCPU9ww/edit?usp=sharing
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
25600 GHS
- 22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.
2495.1 USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
Endorsements and Feedback
[edit]Please add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.
Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:
- Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
- Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
- Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
- Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
- Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).