Raymond Ahiadorme, the Component Manager at GIZ, has reiterated the organization’s dedication to strengthening its assistance to the Ghanaian government and the Energy Commission in combating the impacts of climate change.
This pledge is part of GIZ’s wider initiatives to encourage sustainable development and tackle environmental issues in Ghana. He said this during a master class training for some selected journalists on the theme, “Enhancing the Capacity of Journalists on Climate Change,”
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) have taken a significant step in combating climate change by training over 20 journalists on climate change reporting. This masterclass training, held in Accra, aimed to enhance the capacity of journalists to effectively report on climate change and environmental issues.
The training focused on equipping participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to report on climate change policies, their impact on the country, solutions, and job creation opportunities. This initiative is particularly important, as radio remains a reliable and widely used media platform for influencing citizens on climate change.
Mr. Raymond Ahiadorme, Component Manager for Sustainable Energy for Climate Protection at GIZ Ghana, emphasized the need to support journalists in communicating climate issues effectively.
He highlighted GIZ’s efforts in supporting various sectors, including sustainable energy, and encouraged journalists to apply new trends in climate journalism to their work
“Understanding that the distribution of information is essential for reaching climate goals is crucial. If we provide assistance to regulators, the private sector, and various stakeholders while neglecting the media, our efforts will lack completeness.”
He speaks “That’s why we are utilizing this platform on World Radio Day to inform journalists who cover environmental and climate issues, enabling them to incorporate new trends in climate journalism into their reporting.
“We collaborate with the government on regulatory matters, working closely with organizations such as the PURC and the Energy Commission. Additionally, we focus on integrating renewable energy into the grid and enhancing knowledge about net metering,” Mr. Ahiadorme stated.
“By partnering with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, we are enhancing technical expertise in renewable energy and energy efficiency.”
The masterclass also featured Mr. Michael Boateng, CEO of Blue Alliance, who challenged journalists to hold leadership accountable for implementing climate change policies and international agreements.
The training ultimately aimed to empower journalists to report accurately and effectively on climate issues, ensuring public awareness and engagement in climate action efforts globally.
By Spendylove J. Kumi
