LAUNCH OF WASH JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

  

  Frederick Asiamah

  
  
  
  
   Global Water Partnership (GWP) in collaboration with Ghana Wash Journalism Network (GWJN) and the Federation of environmental Journalists (FEJ) launched a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
  The initiative dubbed “ma wie my wash concern' is aimed at encouraging student journalists to write more stories on natural resources especially water, as well as  sanitation and other environmental issues.
• 
  Fredrick  Asiamah, a member of GWJN was the main speaker.
  
  He said in his delivery that man's second need is water but that is what is being given less prominence in media coverage. He indicated that a research by the National Media Commission in 2008 showed that media reportage on water and sanitation constituted only 1%. The state owned media, daily graphic and Ghanaian Times also recorded 2% in the aforementioned areas with politics dominating the chat from 2011-2014.
  
  Mr.Asiama said that Ghana is aiming to achieve Millennium Development Goal(MDG)7 by the end of 2015 and the only way we can achieve it is through  education and creation of awareness through media reportage. He said achieving this goal will also help curb other problems in other sectors of the economy.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• He again argued that gender is one of the issues that have gained so much attention over the years resulting in the creation of a gender ministry which takes care of women in particular. He said research has shown that the majority of girls who drop out of school are as a result of the absence of facilities to give them comfort during their menstrual cycle.  Frederick Asiamah maintained that solving all these problems will help curb other problems in other sectors of the economy.
  
  He therefore encouraged upcoming journalists to resort to the writing of more water, sanitation and environmental stories .He also lectured the students on how to write these stories.
  
  Justice Odoboi, a representative of GWJN also explained the work of the network. He stated that the outfit is a network of journalists who uncover issues on water, sanitation and hygiene, create awareness and educate the general public on it.They also prepare reports for policy makers concerning these issues.
  
  He believes reporting on these issues will help solve some health issues facing this country. He therefore encouraged the students to write more articles to conserve and protect the environment. He also promised that any student who is able to write an article concerning the aforementioned areas will be rewarded.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                BY: Agnes Ansah                                                                                                                                                                              This article was first published on www.studentsghana.com
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
•