Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Rebecca Ekpe, has called on journalists to approach sensitive social and health issues with greater responsibility, context, and solution-oriented reporting.
Speaking during the Merck Foundation Health Media Training held virtually via Zoom, Ms. Ekpe stressed that media coverage must go beyond sensational headlines and focus on the root causes and possible solutions to societal challenges.
“The media has the power to shape attitudes, influence policy, and save lives, but journalists must report with responsibility and keep communities at the center of their stories,” she stated.
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The training brought together medical experts and media professionals from across Africa as well as Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America to strengthen reporting on infertility stigma, women’s empowerment, child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and diabetes prevention.
Addressing participants on the role of the media in grassroots awareness, Ms. Ekpe warned that some reporting on gender-based violence unintentionally reinforces stigma instead of promoting healing and support for victims.
“Coverage of gender-based violence often reinforces stigma instead of healing it. Journalists must move beyond labels and ask what led to these situations and how they can be addressed,” she said.
She noted that Ghana records nearly 100,000 teenage pregnancies annually, with higher rates in northern parts of the country, yet media coverage often ends with official statements without deeper investigation into the underlying causes.
According to her, poverty, cultural practices, abuse, and lack of education continue to drive child marriage and teenage pregnancy, making it important for journalists to provide context and amplify solutions.
Ms. Ekpe also highlighted the continued existence of female genital mutilation despite legal bans, while pointing to poverty and early marriage as barriers preventing many girls from accessing education.
At the same time, she cautioned that growing numbers of young boys are also being left behind socially and educationally, emphasizing the need for community-wide interventions.
She encouraged journalists to include chiefs, religious leaders, NGOs, women’s groups, and community organizations in their reporting to promote inclusive conversations and inspire positive change.
“Success stories are important because they show communities that change is possible,” she added.
Ms. Ekpe further underscored the importance of local language broadcasting and radio in reaching underserved communities where internet access and electricity remain limited.
“Radio remains the most accessible platform in many communities, and media campaigns have already helped increase reporting on gender-based violence and improve girls’ school enrollment,” she explained.
She acknowledged the challenges journalists face while covering sensitive issues, including cultural resistance, lack of reliable data, and safety concerns, urging reporters to prioritize their security and adopt safe methods of gathering and sharing information.
The veteran journalist also challenged media houses to devote greater attention to health and social development issues instead of focusing excessively on politics.
“The stories affecting people’s lives every day deserve equal attention in our newsrooms,” she said.
The Merck Foundation training emphasized the critical role journalists play in influencing social change, breaking silence around harmful practices, and giving voice to vulnerable communities across Africa and beyond.
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