Abidjan: The Volta Basin Authority (VBA) has called on media professionals in West Africa to support efforts to address environmental degradation, climate change, and water governance challenges affecting the Volta Basin. This appeal was made during a Regional Capacity Building, Mobilisation, and Media Production Workshop for journalists and communication professionals ahead of the 5th Volta Basin Stakeholders Forum in Abidjan.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Dibi Millogo, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Operations of the VBA, emphasized the critical role journalists play in promoting environmental sustainability and mobilizing public support for the protection of water resources and ecosystems. He stated that the media are not just observers of ongoing transformations but can become catalysts for those transformations.
Dr. Millogo urged journalists to translate scientific and technical information into accessible and compelling stories that encourage environmental responsibility and community action. He highlighted the growing threats faced by the Volta Basin, which supports millions of people across six countries. These threats include climate change, recurrent floods and droughts, ecosystem degradation, population growth, and increasing pressure on natural resources.
He noted that while investments and policy interventions are important, sustainable solutions also depend on public awareness, stakeholder participation, and effective communication. The workshop aimed to strengthen media understanding of water governance, climate change, and ecosystem conservation, while building a regional network of journalists committed to sustainable development issues within the basin.