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The Science and Technology Communicators of Ghana (SaTCOG) has stressed the crucial role of science journalism in promoting public understanding and engagement with science in the country.
According to the Association “science journalism is not just about reporting on scientific breakthroughs or discoveries. It is about telling the stories that matter, stories that impact our daily lives, our environment, and our future”.
Speaking at the second biennial media forum on natural resources, environment, climate change and science (BIM-NECS FORUM 2), an Executive Director of the Association, KINGSLEY E. HOPE, noted that “science journalism is about making complex scientific concepts accessible, understandable, and relevant to the general public”.
Mr. HOPE, the outgoing Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association observed that Ghana faced numerous challenges that required scientific solutions. From climate change to environmental degradation, from health pandemics to food security, “science journalism plays a critical role in informing the public, policymakers, and stakeholders about the issues, the science behind them, and the potential solutions”.
However, he observed that science journalism faced its own set of challenges pointing to limited resources, lack of access to scientific information, and the complexity of scientific concepts “that can make it difficult for journalists to report accurately and effectively on scientific issues”.
“This is where organizations like SaTCOG come in. By promoting science journalism and providing training, resources, and support to journalists, we can enhance the quality and quantity of science reporting in Ghana”,he intoned.
To promote science journalism in Ghana, he stressed the need to build capacity, to provide training and resources to journalists to help them understand complex scientific concepts and report accurately on scientific issues.
Mr. HOPE, who doubles as the Ashanti Regional Correspondent of the Ghanaian Times mewapaper,mentioned the need to promote access to scientific information.
“We need to encourage scientists, researchers, and institutions to share their findings, data, and expertise with journalists and the public. We need to recognize and reward excellence in science journalism. We need to celebrate journalists who do an outstanding job of reporting on scientific issues and inspire others to follow in their footsteps”.
He encouraged the Ghana Journalists Association ro collaborate effectively with science related associations to promote public understanding and engagement with science.
“It is our collective responsibility to promote science journalism, build capacity, promote access to scientific information, and recognize excellence in science reporting.
The forum, which was held on Tuesday, 3rd June 2025, at True Vine Hotel, was on the theme: “Ecosystem Restoration: The Politics, the Science, the Human and the Economy”.
It brought together key stakeholders from the Bono East, Bono, Ahafo and Ashanti regions to brainstorm the need to restore the ecosystem.
BIM-NECS FORUM is a joint initiative of Media Platform on Environment and Climate Change (MPC), the Afro-Sino Centre of International Relations (ASSCIR) and Steminist Foundation.
The goal is to contribute to the conversation about the importance of the media and information dissemination for the governance and management of NECS.
Key speakers included Professor (Mrs) Mercy Afua Adutwumwaa Denkyi, who is the Director of Quality Assurance and Academic Planning Directorate (QAAPD), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UNER), Sunyani.
Mr. HOPE commended the forum for the engagement as he noted the role of the media in ensuring ecosystem restoration could not be overemphasised. Hence, he called for an effective environmental reportage with in-depth knowledge acquisition by media personnel.
