Today 13th February marks the 2025 edition of the annual World Radio Day Celebrations.
In a statement to mark the day, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has recognized efforts of environmental journalist in bringing issues of climate change to the fore.
Being one of the key defenders of journalist rights and interests on the sub-continent, the foundation has recognized the role radio continues to play in satisfying the information needs of citizens across the continent; 65% of whom depend on radio.
“The power and utility that radio commands naturally positions it as a vanguard for social mobilization. This is especially true for community radios which serve as platforms for everyday people to be part of global conversations such as climate change.”
“In West Africa, where communities continue to face disproportionate existential threats from climate change, radio’s power remains indispensable for galvanizing people for climate action.” the statement said
Marking the day on the theme ‘Radio and Climate Change‘, the foundation also bemoaned the threats environmental journalists face in the course of their work describing their situation as working in a “hostile environment”.
“Environmental journalists also frequently suffer violent attacks over their work with the perpetrators often enjoying impunity.”
“The plight of the West African journalist, whether in radio or other forms of mass media, demands that stakeholders are more concerted in their efforts to make the civic space freer” the statement adds.
In response to the trend of threats journalists face, the MFWA indicated it has put in place a number of efforts to help ensure safety and security of journalists. In addition to training and sensitizing journalists on environmental journalism, it has also formed a network of lawyer to form the West Africa Network of Activists and Media Defence Lawyers (WANAMDEL).
The group (WANAMDEL) is made up of 14 lawyers from 11 African countries who are dedicated to helping journalists fight legal harassments in their line of work. The legal team will also offer help to activists as well.
The Ghanaian Context
Environmental journalists in Ghana have had their painful share of threats and harassments when it comes due to their work. In recent times, journalists like Erastus Asare Donkor, whose work has exposed the impact of Galamsey on the country has faced brutalities which have necessitated medical attention and fleeing the country for safety. Others like Edem Srem-Sai who has also exposed activities on Galamsey and other environmental issues have shared stories of how they have had reasons to look over their shoulders or work covertly in their line of work. There are cases of journalists assault which have gone unreported and unattended to in past years.
Read the full statement here.
