Some selected journalists and radio presenters from the five regions of the north have received training on weather information broadcasting to help increase the dissemination of weather news to farmers and local communities.

The journalist from the Upper East, Northern, Savannah, Northeast, and Upper West Regions were taken through a four-day weather information management training to strengthen their capacity to better grasp the correlation between changing weather patterns and the country's socio-economic development.

The Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP) workshop, which took place at Damongo, the capital of Savannah Region, brought journalists and scientists together with the goal of fostering a two-way knowledge exchange on how to better communicate weather information in the media.

Climate information is often transferred from scientists to the media with little direct interaction between scientists and journalists.

The workshop focused on the importance of a shared knowledge of the forces that shape popular press and scientific discourses in Northern Ghana.

It was also meant to increase journalists' awareness of weather information and their ability to report correctly and responsibly on weather science and climate change implications.

It was an opportunity for scientists to increase their engagement with the media in general, non-specialist audiences, as well as to communicate vital scientific information to specific target audiences in an easy-to-understand manner.

Scientists from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) included Nana Kofi Opoku, Head of Agrometeorology and Joshua Asamoah, Central Analysis and Forecast Office, and 10 journalists.

Emmanuel Akayeti of GBC, Bolgatanga, Puakyiene Donald of Gangaa FM, Jirapa, Adam Hussein of Might FM, Savelugu, Mohammed Balu Sali of RADFORD FM, Tumu, and Ibrahim Alhassan of Zaa Radio, Tamale were among the journalists that attended.

The rest included; Bebane Dennis, GBC, Wa, Aabe-Inir Pontianus, Nandom FM, Mohammed Alhassan, Sankara Radio, and Asola Christopher, Word FM, Bolgatanga.

Addressing the participants, Dr. Edmund Kyei Akoto-Danso, the Climate Adaptation Manager at GASIP, emphasised the need for regular engagements between climate scientists and journalists to enhance prompt and efficient dissemination of weather information.

He highlighted the importance of deciphering climate jargon so that information may be understood by the general public.

"It is a known fact that, even though environmental challenges and climate change impacts have been identified as a major developmental concern in Ghana, media attention and reportage on such issues have been minimal," Dr. Akoto-Danso said.

According to him, “if journalists are consistent in reporting on issues on the ecosystem, the issues of climate change will be reduced by 45 percent in the next 30 years."

The training which allowed scientists and media the chance to collaborate was interspersed with field activities.

The officials from GMet led participants through an exercise on the importance of weather and climate information to audiences.

They also leveraged the platform to address issues of misinterpretation of climate change information by the general public.

The workshop also discussed the likelihood ratio of a weather forecast, clarifying the matrix risk, weather uncertainty, weather models, and other weather concepts even further.

Some journalists mentioned their lack of grasp of climate science and the associated sophisticated scientific jargon as a key takeaway from the training.

The media men were also equipped with practical solutions to be able to carry out deep and impactful reporting as well as advocacy around issues relating to agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

The Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP) is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and is being implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.