The Chief of Staff of Ghana, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, has urged journalists to play a critical role in addressing issues of climate change.
She was speaking at the third African Media Convention (AMC) under the theme, “Enhancing freedom, innovation and environmental sustainability in a dynamic media landscape” at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
Reminding the media of its influential role in the world, she emphasized the adverse effects of climate change on Africa, stating that the role of accurate and objective reportage in countering false narratives on environmental crisis.
“We as Africans and the media in particular, have a special duty to reflect on the exercise of journalism and freedom of expression amid the global environmental crisis. It is noteworthy, that climate change denials have become increasingly untenable in the face of escalating environmental catastrophes occasioned by human activities,” she said.
“According to the state of the climate in Africa 2022 report, these catastrophes including floods and rising temperatures threaten our very existence as Africans as they continue to pose an ever growing risk to a healthy environment.
“In fact, research has estimated that the impact of climate change on the African continent will be worse than slavery and colonialism and thus behooves on the African media to accepts its role in combating climate change and its attendant environmental crisis,” she added.
She however called for an effective collaboration among media organizations, as well as policy makers and other stakeholders to stress on effective information in addressing environmental crisis and its impact on Africa.
“In bringing my address to a close, I urge policy makers, international organizations, media practitioners and other representatives of the African state present in Accra for the convention to use the occasion to highlight the importance of reliable and accurate information in addressing environmental crisis especially climate change and its disproportionate impact on Africa. I urge that we strengthen collaboration between media organizations, civil society organizations, governments and international bodies to promote and to protect press freedom and freedom of expression.”
“We must equally use the occasion to deliberate on the sustainability of media practice in Africa as well as raise awareness of journalists and communication workers reporting on the environment.”
