Ghanaian journalists have been urged to prioritise and increase conversations around climate change and related issues to influence policies and help vulnerable communities adapt to the impacts.

Dr Martin Thompson Ntem, Director of Training and Innovations, Institute for Digital Marketing and Communication Ghana (IDMC Ghana), explained that threats of climate change were heightened, and adversely affecting almost every aspect of the economy and underscored the urgent need to champion innovations as mitigation measures.

‘Climate change is one of the most pressing global issues of our time,’ he said, adding, ‘its impacts are far affecting every aspect of life, from the environment economy, health and security.’

Dr Ntem made the call during a four-day training workshop for journalists of the Ghana News Agency on advocacy reporting in health communication, youth entrepreneurship, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) promotion, gender and climate change issues held in Tamale in the Northern Region.

The
training is part of the of the Post COVID-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Project (PSDPEP) being implemented by the Social Investment Fund (SIF) and funded by a grant facility of US$31.34 million, comprising US$28.5 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and US$2.8 million from the government of Ghana.

The five-year project which seeks to build health related skills in higher education, restore livelihoods, strengthen public communication, and create jobs among the youth and women, also aimed to promote technical and entrepreneurship for job creation.

Five institutions namely the Ghana News Agency, Social Investment Fund, Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), the Biotechnology Centre, the School of Nursing and Midwifery, and the Microbiology Centre of the University of Ghana.

The training is carried out by the IDMC Ghana, brought together more than 40 reporters, editors, and stringers from GNA’s offices in the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Bono and Ashanti Regions.

T
he overall goal of the training is to enhance the capacity of journalists to produce high quality and impactful content that informs, educates, and empowers the Ghanaian public and play crucial role in the country’s post COVID-19 recovery and rebuilding processes.

According to Dr Ntem, research has shown that climate change occurred over several decades, however, there has been rapid changes in the climate in recent times affecting various aspects of life which situation was worrisome and needed collective efforts to address it.

He said although there were natural factors leading to climate change, human activities such as illegal mining, deforestation, industrialisation, burning of fossil fuels among other things were major contributors of the faster rate of the phenomenon.

The situation, he said, had led to disruption and increase in greenhouse effects leading to global warming which, adversely affected the ecosystem causing extreme weather globally and impacting greatly on vulnerable communities.

‘In G
hana, rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns affect agriculture, water resources and food security, coastal communities face increased erosion, flooding and saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels as well as increased incidence of heat-related illnesses, malaria and other water-borne diseases,’ Dr Ntem added.

He, however, called on stakeholders to ensure a balance in meeting environment, economic and social needs of the country as sustainable measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on the people and communities.

He urged journalists to shed light on the impact of climate change on communities to influence policy direction as well as highlight innovations that could be adopted to mitigate the impacts especially on vulnerable people and communities.

‘We need to also move towards greener energy such as solar, wind and hydro power as well as composting, recycling and using long lasting equipment,’ he added.

Mr Charles Yao Mawusi, a Communications Consultant at IDMC Ghana, urged journal
ists to adopt advocacy journalism in highlighting vulnerabilities, adding that such a move would not only give voice to the voiceless but would make great impact and influence policies.

Mrs Beatrice Asamane Savage, Director of Editorial, GNA, acknowledged the importance of the training to the overall development of the Agency and urged the participants to take advantage of the knowledge on the digital storytelling to make greater impact.

Source: Ghana News Agency