By Christiana Afua Nyarko/ Harriet Akosua Kwakye
Accra, Feb 14, GNA- The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) have trained more than 20 journalists on Climate Change Reporting to mark World Radio Day.
The masterclass training, held in Accra, was on the theme: “Enhancing the Capacity of Journalists on Climate Change.”
The training was to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively report on climate change and environmental issues, the related policies, impact on the country, solutions and opportunities for job creation among other areas.
In an era of rapid technological advancements, radio remains one of the most reliable and widely used media platforms to help influence citizens on climate change.
This year’s World Radio Day, commemorated on the theme: “Radio and Climate Change,” underlines the critical role of radio in amplifying climate change issues, creating awareness and rallying popular support to mitigate its impact.
Speaking on the importance of the masterclass, Mr Raymond Ahiadorme, Component Manager for Sustainable Energy for Climate Protection at GIZ Ghana, emphasised the need to equip journalists with the tools to effectively communicate on climate issues.
“We know that dissemination of information is also part of achieving climate action. If we support regulators, the private sector, and other stakeholders without also supporting the media, our work will not be holistic enough,” Mr Ahiadorme said.
“That’s why we are using this platform on World Radio Day to educate journalists who report on the environment and climate, so they can apply new trends in climate journalism to their work.”
He elaborated GIZ’s efforts in supporting various sectors within the country to implement programmes for sustainable energy.
“We support the government on regulations, working closely with institutions such as the PURC and the Energy Commission. We also work on grid integration of renewable energy and capacity building on net metering,” Mr Ahiadorme said.
“Through our collaboration with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, we are strengthening technical capacities in renewable energy and energy efficiency.”
Mr Michael Boateng, the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Alliance, encouraged journalists to hold leadership accountable in the implementation of climate change policies and its related international agreements.
The Climate Change Consultant challenged media persons to interrogate the practical actions taken so far to deal with such issues.
The masterclass was aimed at empowering journalists to report accurately and effectively on climate and related issues, ensuring that the public remained informed and engaged in climate action efforts across the country and globally.
GNA