Selected adolescents from Sunyani municipalities in the Bono Region have received a two-day training in basic journalism.

The training is aimed at empowering the participants to amplify their voices through both traditional and digital media and serve as transformational journalists in their localities.

It is part of the Resilient City for Adolescents Project, being implemented by the Sunyani-based Global Media Foundation (GLoMeF) and its primary partners, Citizens Watch Ghana and Indigenous Women Empowerment Network.

The Botnar Foundation is providing £329,000 in funding for the implementation of the 3-year project in the Sunyani Municipality under its initiative – Healthy Cities for Adolescents, through Ecorys UK, an international provider of research and communication services. 

The Healthy Cities for Adolescents programme aims to promote the health and well-being of adolescents in intermediary cities across the global south. 

Six countries, including Ghana, Colombia, Senegal, Vietnam, India, and Ecuador, are beneficiaries of the initiative, with Sunyani and Ho as the implementing cities in Ghana. 

Participants were trained in modern ways of news gathering and reporting, issue identification, radio production and on-air presentation as well as the use of digital tools for content creation.

As part of the training, the participants, drawn from the 19 adolescent parliaments established by GloMeF in the Sunyani and Sunyani West municipalities, visited a radio station in Sunyani to interact with seasoned broadcasters and reporters. 

After the training as transformative journalists,  the young people said they have been equipped with the skills and knowledge to share their stories to cause positive change in their communities.

The Project Manager, Edward Ayabilah, gave an overview of the project, adding that it will empower the adolescents to become active citizens.

“The project, designed to empower young people to become change-makers through the power of journalism, is the first of its kind in Ghana,” he stated.

He said the adolescents are expected to learn how to harness the potential of journalism to advocate issues that matter to them and amplify underrepresented voices.

Mr Ayabilah noted that about 1,500 adolescents are to benefit from the entire Resilient City for Adolescents Project, while about 3,000 more will experience the positive impact.