Journalists from West Africa expressed strong concern over the escalating environmental challenges facing the area. Certain journalists from West Africa have alleged that the leaders of the region are failing to address the environmental problems that are affecting the area. On May 2, 2024, reporters participated in a webinar hosted by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in Ghana’s capital, Accra, to honour World Press Freedom Day for this year. Every May, the World Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder of the obstacles journalists face while carrying out their crucial role as guardians of truth in society.
The occasion serves as a prompt for governments worldwide to protect the integrity of the press and the right to freely express oneself. Sulemana Braimah, who serves as the Executive Director of MFWA, pointed out that leaders in the region are prioritizing the pursuit of political power over addressing critical climate change issues worsened by environmental destruction. During his introduction at the two-hour webinar, Mr. Briamah emphasized the importance of holding journalists accountable in tackling environmental crises in West Africa.
Supporting journalists to uncover those responsible for environmental harm.
Kenneth Ashigbey, a member of a media coalition fighting against illegal mining in Ghana, emphasized the importance of supporting journalists to uncover those responsible for environmental harm. During his talk, media manager, Mr. Ashigbey, brought attention to the most pressing environmental concerns: unauthorized mining activities, the destruction of forests, wildlife hunting, and extraction of sand. He highlighted the fact that these actions are contaminating agricultural lands and bodies of water spanning from Ghana to its neighbouring West African country, Côte d’Ivoire.
During the webinar on ‘Journalism & the Growing Environmental Crises in West Africa’, three journalists from West Africa, representing Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon, shared their perspectives. Erastus Donkor, a journalist from Ghana who has received prestigious awards, shared a disturbing encounter he faced during his coverage of illicit mining activities in a Ghanaian forest reserve. Mr. Donkor recounted a harrowing experience at a forest reserve in Ghana where he was reporting on illegal mining. The vigilante group overseeing the miners captured him and his cameraman, holding them captive for five hours.
Gov’t would collude to prevent journalists from obtaining crucial info.
Violence ensued as they attacked Donkor’s driver, damaged the car and destroyed their cameras in an attempt to erase any evidence of the illicit activities. The crew members were left traumatized by the brutal ordeal. According to him, individuals who have a personal stake in the matter, such as politicians and business owners, resist being held responsible for their actions. Mr. Donkor supported Mr. Ashigbey’s worries by stating that the contamination of fresh water sources is a pressing issue, and he criticized the Ghanaian government for stifling transparency efforts through the spread of false information.
Haruna Salisu, a Nigerian journalist, expressed feeling great unease while covering the issue of environmental pollution in the north eastern region of the country. During the webinar, Mr. Salisu expressed his fear about the current state of affairs in Nigeria. He claimed that the government would collude to prevent journalists from obtaining crucial information. Additionally, he mentioned that they would deploy enforcers to intimidate anyone attempting to uncover activities such as unlawful mining and logging within wildlife sanctuaries.
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Reene Batongue, a journalist hailing from Cameroon, highlighted the detrimental impact of illegal logging and mining on the environment, labelling them as some of the most severe forms of environmental degradation in the nation. She expressed sorrow over the widespread logging in forests and the trafficking of pangolin scales from Africa to satisfy demand in Asian markets. Reporters focusing on environmental issues are facing legal battles from big corporations and powerful individuals. To combat this, journalists are urging civil society organizations to work together in addressing these lawsuits. In addition, they suggested utilizing solution-oriented journalism to raise awareness among residents in mining communities about the harmful effects of environmental pollution on their health, ultimately aiming to pursue legal action.
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