Dr. Amoah Antwi-Bosiako, a director at the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), calls for simplified communication on climate change. He believes that citizens need to understand the issue to address it effectively and clearly.
Despite numerous ongoing initiatives to tackle the climate crisis, many remain unaware due to information gaps.
At the Africa Climate Communication Conference and Exhibition (ACCCE) 2023 in Accra, Dr. Antwi-Bosiako emphasised the need for clearer communication. This clarity, he believes, will empower people to help reduce climate change effects both in Ghana and across Africa.
On behalf of the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, the director highlighted the value of impactful communication.
He sees promise in the Climate Communication and Local Governance—Africa (CCLG-Africa) initiative. Its goal? To train climate communicators for clearer messaging, as reported by Graphic Online.
Kofi Don-Agor, the CEO of CCGL-Africa, spotlighted the conference theme, “From Vulnerability to Resilience: Crafting Effective Climate Communication Strategies for Africa.” He outlined three pillars of effective climate communication: accuracy, empathetic engagement, and actionable insights.
The strategy? Equip communicators at all levels to connect with a range of audiences. Don-Agor aims to provide clear, organized climate information to the masses.
Meanwhile, CCLG-Africa intends to team up with focal persons in select districts. They aim to create engaging climate content for platforms like social media, print, community radio, and mobile information vans.
Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, the Vice-Chancellor of UniMAC, stressed the need to broaden the climate conversation beyond scientists. He’s pushing for communicators who can make complex climate topics accessible in local languages. Furthermore, his university plans to introduce courses focusing on climate communication.
Lastly, Prof. Kwadwo Owusu from the University of Ghana underlined the pressing nature of climate change, pointing to extreme weather events, sea-level rises, and biodiversity losses.
