Dr Enoch Bessah, who heads Climate Change and Ecosystem Services Monitoring at the DIPPER Lab, KNUST, warned that climate change communication in Ghana is falling short during the first panel of the Climate x Culture Summit. The event, themed “Designing Sustainable Creative Experiences for Africa,” sought to link climate action with culture and creativity.
Bessah said the majority of Ghanaians remain unaware of the climate crisis until they experience its effects. "Since the majority are still in the dark and they only get to know it when they are hit with the impact, then we are not doing well," he said. He blamed a disconnect between scientists and the public, noting that scientific research often fails to reach as many people as messages delivered through popular culture.
He illustrated his point by comparing a climate‑focused song from a popular musician like Okyeame Kwame to a peer‑reviewed journal article. "A song by Okyeame Kwame could reach more people in a year than my article that has been in the journal for so many years," Bessah said.
The researcher highlighted that those whose livelihoods depend on weather—farmers and construction workers—tend to be more conscious of climate shifts. Conversely, many everyday activities that contribute to environmental harm, such as indiscriminate waste disposal, are not fully understood in terms of their climate impact. "Leaving waste on the street can worsen flooding even from short rains," he warned.
Dr Bessah concluded that Ghana must broaden its climate communication channels, embracing culture, creativity and other media to reach ordinary citizens. "We are not doing well because we have limited the media of this climate change communication," he stated.
The summit’s call for creative solutions signals a growing recognition that traditional scientific outreach may not be enough to mobilise Ghana’s population against climate change.
