Mr. Darly Bosu, Deputy Executive Director of A Rocha Ghana, has called for enhanced collaboration between civil society organizations (CSOs), the media, and communities to tackle the challenges facing Ghana’s forests. Speaking during a two-day workshop organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in Accra, he emphasized the importance of empowering journalists with technical knowledge on forest management, the carbon market, and environmental sustainability.
The workshop, held under the “Tax for Development” project funded by NORAD through OXFAM in Ghana, aimed to bridge knowledge gaps and equip journalists to report effectively on pressing environmental issues. According to Mr. Bosu, Ghana’s forests play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, climate protection, and supporting the livelihoods of many communities. However, they remain under severe threat from deforestation, illegal logging, and galamsey (illegal mining).
“Media must be empowered to delve deeper into these technical issues to project the realities on the ground,” Mr. Bosu stated. “When communities are informed through effective reporting, they are more likely to take action to protect their environment.”
He commended MFWA for organizing the workshop and stressed the need for continued initiatives of this nature. “This collaboration between CSOs, media, and communities is essential to ensuring that government commitments to addressing galamsey and restoring degraded lands are fulfilled,” he added.
Mr. Bosu urged stakeholders to hold the government accountable and ensure that promises made to tackle environmental degradation and promote forest restoration are treated with urgency. He highlighted the critical role of the media in keeping such issues on the national agenda.
As Ghana grapples with the ongoing challenges of illegal mining and deforestation, the workshop is a timely intervention, equipping journalists to lead the charge in raising awareness and advocating for sustainable environmental practices.
