After a successful week long regional course “A” in Tanzania with 24 journalists reporting on the extractive sector in their various countries, Penplusbytes and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) are organizing a national course “B” for the eight Ghanaian journalists from November 14 to 25, 2016.
The 24 journalists who were drawn from Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda are being equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills required to effectively exercise their oversight role in the oil, gas and mining sector in their respective countries.
As a follow-up course, the national course “B” is solely focused on Ghana’s extractive sector: Oil, Gas and Mining. The workshop forms part of activities under the “Strengthening Media Oversight of the Extractive Sectors” project which is aimed at promoting effective and consistent media oversight of oil, gas and mining activities as a pathway to increasing the number and quality of stories on extractives across all media platforms.
The course B largely consists of interactions with experts in the sector and field trips to help equip participants to develop compelling and action oriented stories on the sector.
Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy speaking to the participants on “How to trace the oil money” admonished them to look beyond the data they get from their sources. “Numbers alone do not speak but the story behind it” he said.
Representatives from the Minerals Commission of Ghana and the Chamber of Mines have also had their turn with the participants and enlightened them on licensing mining sites, the activities of galamsey operators and illegal miners in mining communities.
They called on journalists to produce more stories on the deplorable states of most mining communities and help push for a larger share of oil revenues for these communities.
In addition to the training workshop, participants will take field trips to mining communities in Obuasi, Gold Fields Ltd in Tarkwa, Ghana Ports and Habour Authority in Takoradi, Western Regional Coastal Foundation and the Fisheries Commission all in Takoradi to experience at first hand their operations.
About
Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization driving change through innovations in three key areas, namely using new digital technologies to enable good governance and accountability; new media and innovations; and driving oversight for effective utilisation of mining, oil and gas revenue and resources.
The Natural Resource Governance Institute is a non-profit policy institute and grant-making organization that promotes effective, transparent and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public good.