Ghana’s Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations is supporting a national effort to strengthen science and technology reporting as part of the country’s broader digital transformation and innovation agenda. The initiative aims to close the gap between scientific research and public understanding by helping journalists report more accurately and effectively on complex developments in science, technology, and innovation. This reflects a growing recognition that technological progress must not only be achieved but also clearly communicated so that the public can understand, trust, and benefit from it.
As part of this push, the ministry is backing the 2026 Capacity Building for Media Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation Reporting programme, a collaborative initiative involving Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, the British High Commission, and UK International Development. The programme highlights the importance of partnerships between government, academia, and international institutions in building stronger media capacity around emerging scientific and technological issues.
The one-week training programme, held in Accra, brought together 24 journalists from across the country and focused on improving the depth, accuracy, and quality of reporting on scientific research and technological innovation. During the training, participants engaged directly with scientists and innovation experts, exploring how media coverage can better translate technical research into accessible and relevant information for the wider public. This is seen as an important step in ensuring that scientific advances are not isolated within research institutions but are instead connected to public discourse and national development.
In a further expansion of the initiative, 10 journalists were selected for advanced training at Imperial College London, giving the programme an international dimension and exposing participants to global perspectives on science and innovation reporting. This added opportunity is expected to strengthen professional skills even further and support the development of more informed and impactful journalism in Ghana.
The effort comes at a time when many African governments are placing greater emphasis on digital transformation, innovation-led growth, and the adoption of new technologies. In this context, credible and well-informed media reporting is increasingly seen as essential for building public trust, encouraging informed debate, and supporting wider acceptance of scientific and technological change. Ghana’s investment in strengthening science journalism therefore signals a strategic move to ensure that its innovation drive is supported by stronger public communication and greater societal understanding.
