A new capacity-building programme aimed at improving science and technology reporting has been launched in Accra to equip journalists with skills to better communicate research findings to the public.
The initiative, known as the Capacity Building Programme for Media Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Reportage, is designed to train journalists, editors and science communicators to report more accurately on scientific developments and their impact on society.
The three-day workshop forms part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s science communication ecosystem and ensure that research conducted in universities and scientific institutions translates into practical solutions for national development.
Opening the programme, Professor Jerry John Kponyo, Director of the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between researchers and the media.
He noted that while scientists across Ghana were producing important research in areas such as agriculture, health, energy and education, the impact of these discoveries would remain limited if the information was not effectively communicated to the public.
According to him, translating complex scientific findings into simple and understandable language was essential for ensuring that research improved the lives of ordinary citizens.
Participants in the workshop are receiving practical training in research interpretation, science storytelling, multimedia reporting and ethical science journalism.
Speaking at the event, Professor Abigail Opoku-Mensah, Acting Administrator of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF), highlighted the media’s crucial role in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding.
She explained that although significant public resources had been invested in research through universities and institutions such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, much of the knowledge produced remained inaccessible to the public due to weak science communication.
Prof. Opoku-Mensah described science journalists as a vital link between researchers and society, helping to connect scientific discoveries to farmers, businesses, policymakers and citizens.
The programme also forms part of broader efforts to strengthen collaboration between Ghana and the United Kingdom in science and innovation.
Johnson Singir, Head of the West Africa Research and Innovation Hub, said the partnership aimed to enhance joint research initiatives, knowledge exchange and the commercialisation of research outcomes.
He added that selected journalists participating in the programme would receive funding to undertake specialised reporting projects in science, technology and innovation.
Outstanding participants would also have the opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom for advanced training and exposure visits to research institutions, media organisations and innovation hubs to strengthen their expertise in science journalism.
