Between November 11 and 22, 2024, Ghanaian journalists notably sparsely covered COP29 in Baku, according to data manually collected from selected online portals. While the names of reporters from some Ghanaian media outlets were listed in the UNFCCC database, suggesting their potential to travel to Baku and their interest in climate issues, the limited coverage indicates a lack of focus on the crucial climate discussions taking place.

For example, www.modernghana.com published over 30 stories, www.myjoyonline.com published at least 23 stories about COP29, while its sister site, www.adomonline.com, published 14 stories.

Other outlets included www.gna.org.gh has 14 stories published; gbcghanaonline.com has 11 stories published; www.ghanaweb.com with at least nine stories, www.citinewsroom.com and www.peacefmonline.com published eight and seven stories each, www.metrotvonline.com has six stories, www.3news.com and www.onuaonline.com with five stories each.

Others like www.graphic.com.gh published five, www.asaaseradio.com and www.starrfmonline.com have four each, while www.thechronicle.com.gh and www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh each published one story.

A closer look at reporting patterns and analysis of story contributions

On modernghana.com, at least six were written by individuals and over 22 sourced from Reuters, RFI, AFP, Al Jazeera, and other outlets.

On myjoyonline.com, 11 stories were written by individual reporters and an editor who did not attend COP. Four stories had a byline attributed to either www.myjoyonline.com or Joy Business, making it unclear who the authors were. Three stories were written by a JoyNews ex-employee, two were sourced from GNA, two from Reuters, and one from the BBC.

On its sister site, adomonline.com, six stories were published by reporters who did not have the chance to travel to Baku. Five stories were bylined with either adomonline.com or Joy Business, while three stories were written by one of the reporters who did travel to Baku.

The Ghana News Agency (www.gna.org.gh) published eight stories written by a reporter who has been captured in the UNFCCC database having registered to attend the summit in Baku, including two feature stories that connected the summit to the lives of people in rural Ghana. The remaining six stories did not have a reporter's byline, but all were attributed to GNA as the source.

Out of the 11 stories on gbcghanaonline.com, nine were contributed by four individuals, with one person writing more than four stories. One story was sourced from citinewsroom.com, while the source of another was not specified.

Of the nine stories published on ghanaweb.com, five were sourced from GNA, two were credited to GhanaWeb itself, one was sourced from the Ghanaian Times, and one was a column written by a columnist.

Citrinewsroom.com has two reporters covering COP29, with each writing between one and six stories. Two of the stories were credited to citinewsroom itself as the source.

On peacefmonline.com, out of the seven stories published, four were reported by a journalist who attended COP29 in Baku, two were written by another reporter whose participation in Baku remains unverified, and one was sourced from Vanguard.  Five of the six stories published on metrotvonline.com were attributed to someone who was not in Baku while one was credited to Metro Newsroom.

On 3news.com, five stories were authored by three different individuals, while one was credited to the news portal itself. In comparison, its sister site, onuaonline.com, featured four stories attributed to an individual not listed in the UNFCCC roster, with one article credited to the portal.

On graphic.com.gh, of the five stories published, three were reported by a reporter who attended COP29 in Baku, while two were attributed to the portal. Meanwhile, all four stories on asaaseradio.com were written by a reporter who is listed in UNFCCC documents as having registered to participate in Baku. On starrfmonline.com, three out of four stories were written by an individual, with the final one credited to the portal itself.

Thechronicle.com.gh published one story, and ghanaiantimes.com.gh also published one, with the whereabouts of the reporters during COP29 being unknown at the time of writing.

During this period, over 145 stories were published in Ghana, with some media houses republishing content from others. As a result, certain stories appeared in more than four different media outlets. For example, the story titled "25 top journalists gain climate insights at COP29" was widely circulated, same content with different by-lines, and appearing in most of the media houses that reported on the summit.

The coverage encompassed a range of topics, including climate-related issues, environmental challenges, and disaster-related stories, all of which were directly connected to the discussions at COP29. This also included reporting on key speeches delivered at the summit, as well as commitments made by various nations and organisations in response to the global climate crisis.

Only a few journalists highlighted both the immediate and long-term implications of the summit's resolutions, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in addressing climate change, environmental degradation, and disaster preparedness in a rapidly changing world.

There was little to connect these reports to the real-life situations in Ghana and what Ghanaians can copy.

“Once I returned home, I saw some concerning news items that were definitely not a full reflection of what happened at the negotiations. The language used especially by some of the outlets did not clearly communicate or break down the complex issues,” Valerie Nutakor, programme assistant with Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN).

Valerie was one of the thousands who attended COP29. She noted that while there were a few articles and reports that accurately reflected the realities of the negotiations, most of these were written by journalists who weren't present but had conducted thorough research.

She observed that much of the coverage from the event was rushed, lacking in-depth analysis and research which involved generalisations, broad assumptions, and weak context in some cases.

“A majority of the reportage from there was hasty, had poor in-depth analysis and research, generalisation and broad conjecture in some cases, and overall weak context to some of the coverage.”

Various materials on reporting COP are available from a range of organisations, including resources on the UNCC Learn platform. Additionally, several webinars on environmental reporting, understanding COP, and translating research into media narratives have been organised by different groups and are available on YouTube. For example, Valerie’s organisation, CDKN Ghana, hosted one of these webinars earlier this year.

“The UNFCCC already has resources, and there are other organisations that are also providing support on that front.”

Nearly 30 Ghanaian journalists from 12 media houses registered for COP29 Summit, Reports UNFCCC Data

According to data provided by the UNFCCC, nearly 30 Ghanaian journalists registered for the COP29 summit, representing 12 different media houses. Each media house had between one and seven representatives.

The list of media houses found on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) database includes Angel Broadcasting Network, Asaase, BusinessWeek Ghana, Class FM, Despite Media, GBC, GNA, Kessben, Metro TV, The Multimedia Group, Original FM, and Peace FM. Daily Graphic also sent a reporter even though it has not been captured in the UNFCCC database. But digital online editor, Enoch Darfah Frimpong clarified.

“You did not see us on the UNFCCC accreditation because we did not get accreditation from them. We had to go our own way and get some private support,” he said.

These outlets were among the 12 media organisations that had journalists' names registered to attend and cover the event. Being on the list does not automatically guarantee attendance at the summit, but it does imply that such journalists are keen on climate issues and could still report on the event virtually if they were unable to attend in person. Attempts to verify with some of them whether they attended the summit have not been successful.

However, some of the journalists from these media outlets did not report on any COP29-related stories since no byline was attributed to them, especially with online portals. It suggests that these reporters might have been involved in behind-the-scenes work, such as live broadcasting or contributing to content that was later published under the media outlet's general byline.

By offering comprehensive coverage of COP29, Ghanaian media could significantly influence the national discourse on climate change and drive forward discussions on sustainable development. However, it seems that many Ghanaian media outlets did not give adequate attention to the key issues raised during the summit.

This raises several possibilities that, the media representatives who have names on the UNFCCC database, may not have been interested in reporting on the climate-related topics, or the editors at these media houses may not have prioritised the climate stories. It could also indicate a lack of understanding of the complex climate issues at hand, either on the part of the editors who did not recognise their importance or the journalists who may not have followed the ongoing global climate discussions over the years.

Underreporting and limited coverage

Some outlets appear to have published very few stories on COP29 that did not directly connect to the audience or addressed how changing weather patterns impact their lives, suggesting that the coverage may have been limited or secondary to other priorities. The heavy reliance on external stories also indicated that local reporters may have had limited access or capacity to cover COP29 firsthand.

Therefore, underreporting or limited coverage of major events like COP29 can deprive the public of critical information on climate change, which is a global issue with significant local consequences. Limited coverage could also signal a lack of prioritisation of climate reporting in some media outlets.

Climate Editor at The Multimedia Group Limited, Kofi Adu Domfeh, who monitored the COP29 event in Ghana, shared a similar observation. He agreed that the data supported his view, noting that media coverage of COP29 in Ghana was relatively limited, likely due to the country's focus on the upcoming 2024 elections.

He also suggested that the low level of media attention could be attributed to the lack of engagement from Ghana's delegation at COP29.

He emphasised the need for more consistent and in-depth coverage of international events like COP29, particularly to highlight the local impact of climate change. “Journalists should be encouraged to build expertise in global issues, while editors must allocate the necessary resources to ensure thorough coverage of these critical topics,” he said.

Kofi further pointed out that some journalists are selected to attend COP events due to their political connections rather than their knowledge of the climate crisis. As a result, these journalists often struggle to grasp the complexities of climate discussions and may end up as "climate tourists" without contributing meaningful insights.

This implies that journalists may not be fully aware of the realities on the ground, particularly at the rural level. They may miss the opportunity to observe what is working and what isn't, especially when climate mitigation and adaptation policies fail to include local perspectives or indigenous knowledge at some level. This lack of connection to the grassroots could result in reporting that overlooks critical local insights and challenges.

According to Kofi, “media houses and other institutions sponsoring journalists must understand that covering COP requires some experience of journalists already on the climate change beat.” He also believes that the country cannot effectively promote its climate mitigation and adaptation efforts due to the unchecked activities of illegal miners, which continue to harm forests, lands, water bodies, and biodiversity.

Valerie agrees with Kofi, stating, “On the media house front, competent reporters who understand climate change issues can be trained and debriefed both before and after such conferences.”

When asked if there were any specific aspects of COP29 that she felt were underreported or misreported, Valerie pointed out that it was a widespread issue, but she would focus on the finance negotiations.

She observed that some articles inaccurately reported figures quoted during the high-level ministerial plenaries as climate finance commitments and agreed negotiation languages, when in fact; they were merely party or national pledges.

The editor of Adomonline, Josh Tigo, believes that the process used to select journalists for the conference was flawed and that this flaw has contributed to the poor coverage of the event.

“Ideally, senior editorial teams from the various media organisations should have been consulted to choose journalists with a genuine interest and expertise in environmental reporting, as climate and weather topics require specialised knowledge.”

He stated that the lack of expertise was evident in both the low volume and quality of coverage produced, especially given the number of journalists in attendance.

A multimedia journalist who covered the COP29 summit remotely rather than attending in Baku, Dr Joseph Opoku Gakpo, expressed that the Ghanaian media could have done more in terms of both the quantity and quality of stories about the event.

Unfortunately, he observed that this has been a consistent issue over the years, and it seems the trend persisted during COP29. "Sometimes, it goes beyond the journalists. They may file stories, and in this election season especially, editors will not place a lot of priority on stories from COP so we don’t see the publications and broadcasts."

However, he emphasised that this is particularly concerning because, without a planet, there will be no elections or politics. He stressed the importance of engaging the public during events like COP29, noting that journalists play a crucial role in this by bringing the details of the deliberations to the people.

"Sadly, we didn’t see much of that during the COP. So, people end up questioning the relevance of the deliberations. But this was an important meeting that shouldn’t be belittled."

Dr Gakpo also pointed out that journalists could have made more of an effort to ensure that African representatives, youth leaders, and civil society members at the COP were given more coverage in our stories, rather than focusing primarily on government officials and international figures.

“Doing that brings the story home because these are the people who can capture the Ghanaian voices and African voices and really break down what this COP means to the everyday person.” 

Although the managing news editor for Ghana Business News, Emmanuel Dogbevi, didn’t closely follow COP29 as he did with other COP events, he stated that, in general, coverage of critical issues like climate change has been lacking in Ghana. "Media houses in Ghana do not seem to prioritise climate-related matters as they should," he remarked.

He emphasised that to enhance coverage of climate change and other similarly important but neglected topics, ongoing journalists training and adequate funding are essential.

“To improve coverage of climate change issues, like other similarly important but ignored subjects, continuous training of journalists and funding are necessary,” he said.

Local vs. Global focus

Some online portals have a substantial number of stories sourced from external outlets (Reuters, AFP, Al Jazeera etc.) spotlighting the role of international agencies in providing global news coverage, especially when local journalists are unable to attend major events.

But the implication is that, reliance on external sources can both enrich and limit the reporting. While it allows local media houses to provide diverse perspectives, it may also lead to a lack of localised or context-specific coverage, especially when it comes to how global climate decisions impact the local communities in Ghana. Stories that are sourced from international agencies may also not always reflect the nuances of the local audience.

Based on the data collected and the way COP29 was reported, it’s clear that there needs to be a balance between using external sources and original, local reporting. This ensures that audiences receive not only a global perspective but also insights that are meaningful to them.

Both climate experts and activists note that local audiences may struggle to grasp how international climate policies, agreements, and outcomes, like those discussed at COP29, directly affect their lives in Ghana.

This would mean that the public is at risk of missing essential local context or insight into how global climate issues are being addressed at the national or grassroots level, particularly if local reporters are not attending such events or, if they do attend, fail to focus on the relevant local issues.

For this reason, the Partnership and Program Officer at HATOF Foundation, Josh Edem Kojo Dose, emphasised the importance of offering specialised training and fellowships for journalists to equip them with the skills needed to report on climate science and policy.

He also suggested leveraging community-based reporting by establishing partnerships with local organisations and citizen journalists to document firsthand experiences of climate impacts and solutions, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives.

“Media outlets should dedicate space and resources to cover grassroots innovations, such as sustainable farming practices or community-led renewable energy projects in Ghana. ….Encourage journalists to attend global events like COP29 to advocate for local interests and ensure international policies align with Ghana's climate priorities,” he stated.

A regenerative farmer and environmental champion, Clement Matorwmasen, stated that the limited or lack of local reporting on how global climate events impact specific communities in Ghana could create a disconnect between global climate action and local climate needs. This gap in coverage may reduce public engagement with climate issues and hinder collective action on climate change.

Clement, who has been working closely with farmers and training them on sustainable practices, stated that local journalists who attended the event should have focused on providing context and analysis that connect global events to local realities, rather than simply reporting on speeches by Ghanaian dignitaries.

He mentioned that it seemed many journalists were waiting for dignitaries from Ghana to speak before covering the news. Instead, he suggested that they could have made the news themselves by observing the agreements being discussed at the summit and initiating interviews with local representatives to provide deeper insights.

Others like Clement emphasised the importance of empowering local reporters to attend and cover international events like COP29, so they can provide firsthand accounts and localised analysis.

A 45-year-old farmer, Ariku Martin Akudugu, whose 500 acres of maize and rice crops were destroyed by floods between September and October 2020 in the Upper East region town of Kobore, believes that localising climate negotiations is key to adaptation.

"It was the worst flood I've experienced since I began farming. The 2012 incident was not as bad," said Akudugu, the first runner-up in the 2016 National Best Farmer Awards, who resides in the Bunduri district.

Mr. Akudugu had invested 450,000 cedis in his 500 acres of farmland and was expecting to harvest 3,600 bags of maize and 3,200 bags of rice by the end of the season. "The flood wiped out everything, and we couldn't save a single plant," he lamented.

He expressed concern that he had never seen or heard any local media coverage about COP29, despite being a victim of a climate-induced disaster. However, he did catch part of the discussions on international media outlets like CNN.

“There is no education, no publicity for local farmers,” he lamented. He emphasised that without access to powerful information, no one will be able to survive the severe weather conditions.

 Both Clement and AKuduru also highlighted the need to connect global discussions to local realities, ensuring that the public can recognise the immediate relevance of such events.

Online editors’ responses

Various online editors shared their reactions to how the media covered COP29 and their general impressions of the event. They were asked about five questions, including "What did they think of the media coverage?" and an indication of many stories their outlets published about the summit, as well as whether they were impressed by the coverage and its content.

3news.com struggled to cover the conference due to the absence of their reporter. According to Editor-in-Chief, Emmanuel Kwame Amoh, last year's coverage was made possible by a sponsor, but this year, no such support was available. As Amoh explained, "... and my firm was not in the capacity to run such a trip."

3news' editorial also focused on politics meant that without significant political announcements from the conference, it didn't generate much interest. As Amoh put it, "As a result, it didn't meet expectations."

The editor of Adomonline, Josh Tigo, noted that while the Ghanaian media had good representation, he felt the issues discussed at the conference did not receive the level of attention they deserved in terms of media coverage.

“I don't believe the issues discussed at the conference received the attention they deserved in terms of media coverage. While online outlets like adomonline.com and myjoyonline.com published a few articles based on the stories submitted by some of the journalists who were at the conference, the overall impact fell short of expectations.”

Josh mentioned that if a survey were conducted, most Ghanaians would likely be unaware of the conference, let alone the key events and discussions that occurred during it.

“If a survey were conducted, I’m confident that most Ghanaians would be unaware of the conference, let alone the key events and discussions that took place there,” he added.

Given that weather and climate issues are a top priority on the global agenda, and recognising the critical role media plays in driving behavioral change at both the policy and individual levels, Josh pointed out that the lack of coverage—or the obscurity of the stories that were published—indicates that expectations were not met.

Although the editor of Graphic Digital, Enoch Darfah Frimpong, could not assess how other media outlets covered the event due to his busy schedule, he emphasised that climate issues affect everyone and, as such, there is a need to dedicate more time to covering them.

“We need to devote more attention, more pages, more write-ups – we need to give more. We need to be able to do more than what we are doing now,” he said.

He stated that journalists would need more climate training to fully understand the issues. Without proper training or staying informed about these topics, they will never be able to make a significant impact in their coverage.

“And that’s why training is very important. And I think that we are not doing much because we are not doing training programs to abreast or tackle and bring people’s attention to what climate is really doing and how it is affecting us.

If we are able to do more training programs for journalists we would bring attention and then we can devote more of our resources and coverage in that area. Definitely, we need more training,” Enoch said.

The editors recommended that sponsors should collaborate with media houses in the selection process, rather than basing it on personal relationships.

“My recommendation is that sponsors should collaborate with media houses to make the selections, rather than basing them on personal relationships. This would ensure that journalists with the appropriate skills and interest in environmental issues are chosen to represent the media outlets,” Josh said.

Why Ghanaian media must prioritise extensive coverage of climate change, COP

Climate change is an urgent issue that demands immediate action. The media plays a crucial role in raising awareness about its causes, impacts, and potential solutions, thereby empowering citizens to take meaningful steps. Through comprehensive coverage of COP29, the Ghanaian media can hold the government and leaders accountable for their climate commitments and actions, ensuring that promises made at the summit are translated into tangible outcomes for the country and the planet.

The media can play a pivotal role in showcasing Ghana's efforts to combat climate change, such as the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and its progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By offering extensive coverage of COP, the media can also provide a platform for marginalised communities, who are often the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, to voice their concerns and share their stories. This not only raises awareness but also ensures that the experiences of those most affected are heard in the global climate conversation.

Valerie is among experts and activists who consistently advocate for the importance of climate journalism in Ghana. She agrees that it is crucial for raising awareness with accurate information, serving as a fourth estate, connecting global climate issues to local realities, and driving action.

“Media houses can prioritise this by training journalists on climate topics, providing resources for accurate reporting, and dedicating space to environmental stories. Collaborations with climate organisations, cross learning both formally and informally, and access to tools like UNCC Learn can further enhance their capacity,” she noted.

Partnership and Program Officer at HATOF Foundation stated that local journalists must critically contextualise global climate discussions by adapting international policies and agreements to local realities.

Mr Dose emphasised that journalists should translate complex global issues into relatable stories that highlight community-specific challenges, such as the impact of rising temperatures on agriculture or fisheries in Ghana.

He also stressed the importance of journalists collaborating with experts—particularly scientists, environmentalists, and policymakers—to provide accurate and relevant context.

“Training initiatives like ‘Strengthening Climate Reporting’ by KASA Initiative Ghana demonstrate how access to resources and expertise can empower journalists to report on local dimensions of climate policies,” he said.

When asked about the role local reporters play in ensuring that international climate policies are communicated effectively to Ghanaian audiences, especially at the grassroots level, Mr. Dose stated that local reporters serve as a bridge between policymakers and the public. They simplify technical jargon and highlight the real-life implications of policies, making them more relatable and accessible to the local community.

“They demystify international commitments like those made at COP29, explaining how they affect livelihoods, such as access to climate finance or renewable energy projects in rural areas.

“By highlighting community stories, reporters can bring attention to local climate resilience efforts, ensuring these voices inform global decision-making processes. Local journalists can address the intersection of climate change with social justice issues, such as how marginalised communities in Ghana bear disproportionate impacts from environmental changes,” he said.

Why COP Matters for Ghana

COP, or the Conference of the Parties, is the highest decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It serves as a platform where countries convene to discuss, negotiate, and reach agreements on collective actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the broader challenges of climate change. The conference plays a critical role in fostering global cooperation to mitigate climate change by setting targets and strategies for emission reductions.

In addition to its focus on mitigation, COP also emphasises the need for adaptation to the ongoing impacts of climate change. This includes tackling challenges such as rising sea levels, prolonged droughts, and an increasing frequency of extreme weather events. COP's discussions aim to equip countries with the tools and frameworks needed to not only prevent further climate damage but also to adapt to the changing environment in ways that safeguard vulnerable communities and ecosystems.

COP21, held in 2015, led to the historic Paris Agreement, which established a global goal to limit global warming to well below 2°C, with efforts to cap it at 1.5°C. Under this framework, countries are required to submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which outline their plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. COP serves as a vital platform for nations to discuss and reach agreements on climate finance, ensuring that funding is allocated for mitigation and adaptation projects aimed at tackling climate challenges.

For Ghana, COP offers an important opportunity to incorporate climate change into its sustainable development agenda, aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides a forum for the country to engage in international cooperation, exchanging knowledge, expertise, and best practices with other nations. By participating in COP, Ghana can enhance its climate action strategies, attract climate financing, and strengthen its resilience to climate-related challenges, fostering a more sustainable future for its people.

Rising Temperatures pose major threat to Ghana's future growth

Ghana is particularly at risk from the effects of shifting weather patterns, which pose a serious challenge to its long-term growth and development. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) predicts that the country will see a rise in temperatures of 1 to 3°C by the 2060s, and between 1.5 to 5.2°C by the 2090s.

A 2021 World Bank report indicated that about a quarter of Ghana's population resides along the coast, making them highly vulnerable to flooding and waterborne diseases. Flooding in the White Volta River Basin impacted hundreds of thousands of people, damaging many of their livelihoods. Based on several studies, the country is projected to experience more unpredictable and intense rainfall during the wet season, leading to flooding and flash floods, while the dry season may see reduced rainfall.

The projected changes in weather patterns are expected to reduce the yields of key staple crops in Ghana, such as cassava, yams, plantains, maize, and rice. Specifically, cassava yields are anticipated to decrease by 29.6% by 2080, while maize yields are expected to drop by 7% by 2050, according to the World Bank. Cocoa, the country’s second-largest foreign exchange earner, is also vulnerable to rising temperatures and drought. The areas suitable for cocoa production, particularly along the coast, are shrinking due to higher temperatures, flooding, soil salinization, and ongoing coastal erosion. This year, farmers have already faced the devastating effects of a prolonged dry spell, with many in the northern, Savannah, Bono, Ahafo, and Oti regions suffering significant losses.

Madam Belawu invested more than 40,000 cedis in her 20-acre maize farm, which withered, resulting in significant losses. She had employed 13 workers, including three permanent staff, a situation that mirrored the struggles of many farmers who had been hit hard by the prolonged dry spell.

Madam Belawu expressed her frustration, noting that 70% of her farm has been destroyed, leaving nothing to salvage. This is the first time she has faced such extreme weather conditions since 2017. Despite the disaster, she struggled to find a way to pay her workers and has had to engage in difficult conversations with them about their monthly wages.

“70 percent of the farm has been wilted and there is nothing to salvage. With the workers, I pay them monthly. Even though there is a disaster, I have to sit with them and discuss how to resolve their payment,” Belawu said.

The World Food Programme reported that, as of 2020, 3.6 million Ghanaians were food insecure, including 1.6 million individuals experiencing severe food insecurity—people who sometimes go an entire day without food. The effects of climate-related shocks on the country’s food production systems are expected to worsen this situation, potentially increasing the number of people facing acute food insecurity unless urgent climate action is taken.

The 2024 World Bank report estimates that around 2 million Ghanaians are at risk of food insecurity, with food availability likely to be severely impacted by any natural disaster, particularly in the Northern region and rural areas. The report highlights Ghana's high vulnerability to health issues, especially illnesses like malaria and diarrheal diseases. It also notes that health problems related to heat, air pollution, and infectious diseases are increasing, with the elderly, youth, and children being particularly susceptible.

The World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio, stated that the World Bank has shifted its mission to focus on ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity on a livable planet. He emphasised that a healthy population is fundamental to achieving prosperity.

“Therefore, implementing adaptation and mitigation measures is crucial not only to address current challenges but also to prevent further adversities. 

“The Government of Ghana is ahead of the curve in thinking about the potential impacts of climate change on health and we encourage further work across sectors on this important challenge,” Robert said.

Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events are all contributing to a variety of health issues. Heat stress, exhaustion, and heatstroke are becoming more prevalent, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

Climate change is also affecting the spread and prevalence of disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes, which transmit diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Additionally, the stress and trauma caused by extreme weather events, displacement, and food insecurity are leading to mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The public in these times needs access to qualitative information on climate mitigation and adaptation in the drive to build resilience and this will require the media and journalists to play a critical role.