Health corner (JOURNALISTS SCHOOLED ON POPULATION ISSUES)

JOURNALISTS SCHOOLED ON  POPULATION ISSUES

Members of the media should be more “accessible and humorous” when addressing population issues, according to a seminar held by the National Population Council (NPC).

The event, at which National Population Council  acting regional officer Dramani Mahama was the keynote speaker, advised journalists on the most informative and constructive ways to report on population and development.

With challenges such as population growth and sexual health currently facing Ghana, the National Population Council is anxious that awareness of these issues is raised.

“Population issues are often presented in technical language and jargon,” said Mr Mahama, “it's useful if the media use layman's terms to make them easier to understand.”

He went on to explain that among the media's most important responsibilities was “generating public discussion on issues such as environment, development, teenage pregnancy and compulsory free basic education”.

The acting regional officer also urged journalists to “put pressure on the government” and to “advocate for policy change”.

Mr Mahama challenged the media to “report in a way that makes an impact, while avoiding sensationalism”, a topic which inspired many questions from the floor at the presentation's conclusion.

Population is a significant and long-standing concern for Ghana's development, with high population growth the most pressing issue. “Population is the nation's most important resource, and the reason why development takes place” said the seminar's chairman in his introductory address, “it is in this light that the media is important.”

“Since the year 2000, we as a country have added around six million to the population of Ghana” he continued, citing figures from the Population Reference Bureau. “If the rate of increase continues, the country's population will double in about 30 years.”

“Dissemination of ideas and thoughts is always your job,” he told the assembled reporters, “I trust that you will report extensively and accurately on issues of population.”