Navigating Environmental Discourse in Ghana: The Role of New Media in Information Dissemination and Audience Interaction

Guided by the Uses and Gratifications theory, this study examines whether Ghanaian traditional news media facilitate a discursive space for environmental issues on social media. Using a qualitative content analysis of posts and comments from the Instagram accounts of six prominent Ghanaian traditional news outlets between 2021 and 2023, the study analyzes the environmental issues communicated, the extent of public engagement they generated, and the nature of said engagement. Findings reveal that the most prominent issues are local in scope, particularly illegal mining (galamsey), water and land pollution, and waste management. While users engaged with environmental content primarily through passive actions such as “likes,” a significant portion also expressed strong opinions in the comment sections, indicating public concern, politicization, and a sense of government responsibility. However, this engagement rarely reflected knowledge-seeking behavior. The study supports findings on the potential of traditional media to amplify environmental discourse, while revealing limitations in engagement and deliberative depth.