Over 60 media professionals from Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, La Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso and  Senegal joined their counterparts in Togo from the 10^th to the 16^th August, 2022, to discuss the issues of erosion, desertification and security in the sub-region. Speakers at the opening ceremony were of the opinion that if we all worked in a concerted effort, we would find solutions to the menace of desertification, erosion, migration and security concerns in the sub-region. The solutions, they said, lay in educating our peoples about the impacts and effects of their actions and the steps that we could all take to make our environments better places to live in.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Lome, His Grace Nicodeme Barrigah-Benissan, reminded Journalists that the microphone and the pen wielded a lot of power and urged the communicators to help in the fight through their stories.

The Prefect of the Dicastery for Communications at the Vatican, Dr Paolo Ruffini, reminded participants of the Pope’s advice to everyone to listen to ourselves, to our most real needs and also listen to the next person. Quoting the Pope, he said that we were not made to live as atoms, but to live together with others in harmony.

Dr Ruffini called on all Catholic communicators to unite under the umbrella of SIGNIS which is the World body for Catholic Communicators. He explained that by working together, Catholic Communicators could unite their efforts for a symphony of communication which would help in building a church of communion, participation and mission.

He reminded participants of one of the recommendations made at the SIGNIS Africa Congress, held in July, 2022 in Rwanda, which urged African countries to devote a whole week to the celebrations of World Communication Day so they could have more time to educate and inform the public about pertinent issues.  

The President of UCAP, Mr Charles Ayetan called for solidarity to face the devastating consequences of the phenomena of erosion and desertification.

Participants visited the city of Aneho and Togoville to see for themselves, the devastating effects of the sea waves on the coast. Just as is happening to other coastal cities and villages, roads and houses have succumbed to the roaring waves.

Aneho borders Benin and boasts of a rich history from the pre-colonial era, having been colonised  by the Germans, the French and the Portuguese at different times. Participants also visited the place where Lake Togo pours out into the Atlantic Ocean.  This, they were told, had become a constant phenomenon although it wasn't the same some years ago. According to the history, dry land existed between the lake and the sea and people could easily and safely, walk in between them. 

The participants also had the opportunity to plant a number of trees in Aneho.