Accra, Ghana — As climate change tightens its grip on Ghana’s ecosystems, journalists across the country are taking on a crucial role: informing, educating, and mobilizing communities to build a more sustainable future.
From the parched farmlands of the Northern Region to the flood-prone neighborhoods of Accra, Ghanaian journalists are uncovering the human stories behind the statistics — connecting environmental science to the lived experiences of ordinary citizens.
A Growing Climate Challenge
Ghana, like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, faces the dual challenge of pursuing economic growth while tackling environmental degradation. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the country loses about 2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year to the impacts of climate change, including droughts, floods, and coastal erosion.
In the northern savannah, erratic rainfall patterns have left farmers struggling to cultivate staple crops such as maize and millet. Meanwhile, rising sea levels threaten coastal communities along the Gulf of Guinea, with towns like Keta and Ada Foah suffering severe erosion and displacement.
“Climate change is no longer a distant issue — it’s here, and it’s affecting livelihoods every day,” says Dr. Cynthia Asare, a climate policy expert at the University of Ghana’s Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS). “The media plays a critical role in translating these scientific realities into stories that people can relate to and act upon.”
The Role of Journalism
The rise of climate-focused journalism in Ghana has been gradual but impactful. Major media outlets including Graphic Communications Group Limited, Climate Africa, Citi FM/TV, Joy News, and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) — now dedicate airtime and space to environmental reporting.
For Ama Owusu, a freelance reporter based in Accra, climate storytelling goes beyond disaster coverage. “Our role is to humanize the issue,” she explains. “When people see how deforestation or flooding affects families and livelihoods, they start to care about sustainability.”
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has also recognized this growing importance. In recent years, it has introduced the Best Environmental Reporter Award, encouraging journalists to pursue environmental beats with professionalism and purpose.
Training and Partnerships
A number of international and local initiatives are helping to strengthen climate journalism in Ghana. Organizations such as Penplusbytes, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), and the UNDP Ghana Climate Promise project have trained hundreds of journalists on environmental reporting, data visualization, and fact-checking.
“Climate reporting requires more than passion — it demands accuracy,” notes Kwame Agyeman, a media trainer with Penplusbytes. “Journalists must understand scientific data, government policy, and community adaptation strategies. That’s how they earn public trust.”
These capacity-building efforts are yielding results. Local journalists have produced groundbreaking investigations into illegal mining (galamsey), deforestation in protected reserves, and plastic waste management stories that have not only informed the public but also shaped national dialogue and influenced policy.
Community Voices and Local Impact
In northern Ghana, radio remains one of the most effective tools for raising climate awareness. Stations such as Radio Tamale and Zaa Radio regularly broadcast programs on sustainable farming, tree planting, and water conservation.
“We use local languages to make sure everyone understands,” says Alhassan Yakubu, a producer at Radio Tamale. “When farmers hear experts explaining how to adapt planting times or use organic compost, they try it and it works.”
Across the country, youth-led organizations like the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) and Eco Warriors Movement are partnering with journalists to amplify community-driven solutions to waste management and renewable energy adoption.
The Way Forward
Despite progress, challenges persist. Limited funding, inadequate technical training, and editorial pressures from advertisers often push environmental stories to the background. Some reporters admit that political and entertainment stories still dominate newsroom priorities.
Nonetheless, there is growing recognition that journalism is vital to achieving Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, which commits the nation to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 64 megatons of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.
“Media coverage can influence behavior, shape policy, and hold leaders accountable,” says Dr. Asare. “Without the media, climate action will remain a policy document not a movement.”
Conclusion
As Ghana works toward a greener and more resilient future, journalism stands at the intersection of awareness and action. Through persistent reporting, compelling storytelling, and public education, journalists are helping both citizens and policymakers see climate change not as a distant threat but as a shared responsibility.
In the words of reporter Ama Owusu:
“We tell these stories because the environment is not just a beat, it’s our home.”
Story by Doe Benjamin Kofi Lawson