Media Workshop Stresses Power of Journalism in Advancing Badminton Sport in Ghana

Accra: A media workshop on badminton has highlighted the crucial role journalists and digital content creators play in boosting the sport's visibility and supporting its growth across Ghana. According to Ghana News Agency, the workshop brought together journalists, bloggers and digital creators, focusing on providing them with technical knowledge and storytelling skills needed to strengthen badminton promotion nationwide. Delivering a presentation, Mr. Evans Yeboah, President of the Ghana Badminton Association, outlined a number of participation and development initiatives currently being rolled out to expand the sport, especially at the grassroots level. He cited key projects including the schools badminton programme, outdoor badminton, shuttle time activities, a structured coach education framework, and the creation of Air Badminton clubs along beaches. These initiatives are designed to attract young people and broaden community engagement. Mr. Yeboah noted that these programmes are already yielding resu lts, with a notable rise in female participation, reflecting the Association's commitment to sport for all and inclusive growth. He added that the Association is collaborating with the Ghana Education Service to supply educational materials, equipment, and technical support. Additionally, he revealed that three Ghanaian technical officials will soon take part in an international badminton course to improve officiating standards locally. On the technical side of the sport, Mr. Yeboah explained the simplicity and pace of badminton's scoring system, noting that every rally yields a point regardless of who serves. Matches are played in the best of three games, with each game going up to 21 points. He also walked participants through basic rules, service regulations and common faults to enhance the precision of sports reporting. The workshop also emphasised the importance of storytelling, encouraging the media to craft compelling narratives around emerging Ghanaian badminton talents and showcase them as inspirat ional figures to drive interest and participation. Sessions on media ethics reinforced the values of trust, balance, and accuracy, urging journalists to highlight positive stories while respecting athletes and supporting grassroots development. Participants received practical training in videography, graphics, and digital engagement, including techniques for capturing action shots, offering technical context, and using digital tools for promotion and marketing. The workshop ended with a call for the media to harness modern storytelling methods to amplify the excitement of badminton, noting that strong media engagement is essential to sustaining public enthusiasm and advancing the sport in Ghana.