By Eric Appah Marfo
Accra, Oct. 20, GNA – Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, says journalists must work towards strengthening science reporting to bridge the gap between research institutions, industry and the public.
She noted that journalists had an important role in translating scientific discoveries and technological innovations into information that businesses, policymakers, and ordinary citizens could understand and use.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the call at the closing ceremony of the 2026 UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technologies (UK MEET) Fellowship in Accra.
She said researchers often concentrated on developing knowledge and innovations but needed effective communication and commercialisation support to connect their work to industry and the wider public.
The Minister said science journalism could help draw attention to locally developed solutions, encourage collaboration between researchers and businesses, and ensure that research contributed to national development.
She urged journalists to go beyond reporting scientific discoveries as isolated events and follow up on whether innovations were adopted, commercialised and translated into practical benefits for society.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings also called for greater public awareness of scientific developments and their implications, noting that reporting should explain both the benefits and potential risks of emerging technologies.
Professor Eric Opoku Mensah, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), said journalists needed to bring research and innovation out of laboratories and academic institutions into everyday public conversations.
Speaking on the role of the media in shaping West Africa’s science and innovation story, he urged reporters to examine the evidence behind scientific claims, including how studies were conducted, whether findings had been replicated and what uncertainties remained.
He cautioned against presenting preliminary findings as established facts or describing a promising treatment as a cure without sufficient evidence.
Professor Opoku Mensah said journalists should explain technical concepts in accessible language, use local languages where appropriate, and seek the views of people affected by scientific and technological developments.
He also urged the media to give greater visibility to African researchers, women scientists and experts working outside major urban centres, while maintaining editorial independence when reporting on research funded by governments, businesses or other institutions.
The Vice-Chancellor said science reporting should not end with the announcement of an innovation but should examine whether promised services were delivered, equipment worked as intended, and research findings produced meaningful outcomes.
The UK MEET Fellowship, which seeks to strengthen journalism on science, technology and emerging innovations, is delivered by Imperial College London through Imperial Global Ghana, in partnership with the British High Commission in Accra and the UK in Nigeria, with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The 2026 Ghana cohort brought together 30 journalists and content creators for training in areas including artificial intelligence, climate change and resilience, biomedical innovation and public health, and electronic waste and the circular economy.
The programme included workshops, masterclasses, editorial clinics and engagements with researchers to help participants assess scientific evidence, scrutinise technology claims, and communicate complex developments accurately.
The fellowship forms part of a wider UK-Ghana collaboration on science, technology and innovation, with the aim of strengthening public understanding of research and its contribution to development.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe