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MY WASH EXPERIENCE

My Colleagues and I in a interview with a member of the Prestea Community.
Environmental reporting is absolutely not ‘sexy’. After all, what is fascinating about standing in the midst of a mountain of refuse, inhaling a mixture of pollutants as oxygen? What is glamorous about donning oversized boots that look nothing  like the ones that adorn Kim Kadarshian’s legs or those worn by some ‘wanna be’ walking in Bolgatanga’s thirty five degree temperature. It is not as if the gloves worn by reporters on the field are fashion items or they are the types worn by Queen Elizabeth on her visits to Africa. 


Labadi Beach
There is nothing exciting about environmental reporting. If there be any consolation, it should be the free entry to Labadi beach in Accra as a reporter, the opportunity to at least caress gold dust in Takwa  and wishing to be handed a piece of the refined bullion or , going on tour with ‘opana’ in surety of  receiving a stipend for soli-darity sake.

Besides, even the institutions charged with overseeing issues of environmental concern lack motivation, are under-resourced and are struggling to stay afloat. How much less an individual who wishes to tread this path, when some of his colleagues have become bootlickers succumbing to political machinations, while others have turned to the entertainment spectrum as artiste managers or publicists.  


Of course they cannot be wholly blamed. Ask any Journalist in Ghana whether the profession is financially rewarding and you will receive the refrain “It doesn’t pay”.  So, rather than becoming a ‘borla’ journalist, whose sole reward is a good name, one that your dependants will probably never mention in the face of lack,  it would be better to turn to more viable areas of the profession.


While still pondering over this issue in the seminar room of Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), a young man is his mid-thirties, slender, and average in height stood in front of us. It was as if some form of telepathic communication had occurred.

The man, who I later found out to be Frederick Asiamah, a notable environmental journalist began to speak about the issues that were lingering in my mind.

He was addressing us, a group of students present at a symposium on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), organized by Ghana country waster Partnership (CWP-Ghana), a subsidiary of Global Water Partnership.
The symposium was dubbed “Ma Wie” my WASH concerns which in the Ghanaian Language means ‘I’ll talk about my WASH concerns’


Frederick Asiamah the WASH expert, addressing us.
As Fred began his sermon on the environment, it was like watching discovery channel. It emerged that only one per cent of stories done by the media in Ghana are environment related. How revealing! But what accounted for this?. Contrary to my thought that environmental reporting is unattractive in nature, it emerged that journalists themselves have not been nurtured enough to report on environmental issues. They often present stories in a mundane manner and employ technicalities they barely understand, further diminishing readers’ interest.


Then it dawned on me that it wasn’t for nothing that Thomas Naadi Bitlegma,(formerly of Viasat 1 TV)  became internationally recognized for his story titled “Toxic Trade”. His story was described by the judges as being “simple but deep in presenting the problem”.


I learnt my first lesson.  Present the facts, make it vivid but interesting. After Fred took us through the niceties of writing environmental stories, I began my first chapter. My story “Filthy shades of blue” which detailed how filth had engulfed the La beach subsequently earned me a digital recorder from CWP-Ghana.
Receiving my prize with glee


Audio: Filthy Shades Of Blue

But environmental reporting is not all about the negatives. I later learnt during a trip to Bogoso/Prestea in the Western region that beauty can be inherent even in the worst conditions and one can tell a positive story even from a seemingly negative situation. For instance, the story of a mountain that had formed layers as a result of mining activities in the area was told from another perspective. The layers were described as stadium compartments from one angle, and a maze from another.


My interviewing skills also became grounded during the three days spent in the West. Be it a villain or victim, everyone matters in a story. I learnt how to be mindful of my speech and mannerisms when probing because in the end, the reporter is simply a channel to get voices heard.


 Presenting our  post Bogoso story on behalf of my group members
On return, my confidence in environmental reporting heightened. There was nothing more gratifying than sharing my knowledge gained on the field with my colleagues at GIJ.



Credit: Modzaka.com
A year ago, I shuddered at the thought of writing stories about the environment. It was easier to get people interested in Adomaa’s debut album (Adomaa is a Ghanaian Afro-jazz songstress) “Afraba” (Butterfly), than reading about the insect itself. But in the here and now, thanks to Ghana Country Water Partnership, I have discovered and still learning about the art of environmental narratives.


Ultimately I have learnt that environmental reporting can be to a journalist what a song is to an artiste. It can be educative, entertaining and “sexy” and when written/ composed excellently, it will definitely bring in the cash and the crown.


 Meaning of Jargons
*Borla - Gabbage
*Opana - A Ghanaian jargon which means "that person", without mentioning his or her name.( In this context, a President or Minister)
*Solidarity(Short form-soli) - Money given to Journalists before or after a report






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