The Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare has called for the urgent need for the media to play an active role in addressing the impact of climate change on the African continent.
She said the harsh climate change conditions on the continent required concerted efforts by all stakeholders to tackle it head-on.
Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare made the call at the official opening of the Third African Media Convention (AMC) in Accra on Thursday.
She said it was imperative to enhance the capacity of media practitioners on environmental reporting to ensure timely and accurate information on climate change issues and avert false information to the public.
She stressed the media should raise awareness about climate change crises and highlight the importance of reliable and accurate information in addressing environmental challenges, especially climate change’s disproportionate impact on the continent,.
Tackling environmental challenges, she said, would require a strict regulatory regime, law enforcement and effective media education and sensitisation campaigns.
In his open remarks, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), assured that the media would promote free and objective reporting on Ghana’s upcoming elections.
He underscored the need to harness the power of the media to build a brighter future for Africa.
Information Minister-designate Fatimatu Abubakar, also Co-Chair of the Convention, affirmed the government’s dedication to supporting the media industry.
She outlined initiatives implemented by the government, including media capacity enhancement programmes and mechanisms to combat misinformation.
She said the government will do all it can to fortify the media ecosystem and uphold its pivotal role in advancing democracy, promoting accountability, and fostering sustainable development.
The three-day Convention is on the theme: “The African Media We Want: Enhancing Freedom, Innovation, and Environmental Sustainability in a Dynamic Media Landscape.”
It brought together about 2,000 participants across the continent, including policymakers, Ministers of State, diplomats, academia, researchers and media practitioners to brainstorm and advance press freedom in Africa.
The forum also focuses on the promotion of access to information, the safety of journalists and media viability in the African Union Member States.
