By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey, GNA
Peduase (E/R), Dec. 14, GNA – Mr Albert Kofi Owusu, General Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), has called on journalists to present fair, balanced and objective reports on Ghana’s mining sector.
He said mining stories should highlight both the challenges and the development opportunities the industry brings to host communities.
Mr Owusu noted that while irresponsible mining leaves negative environmental and social footprints, mining remained a critical driver of national and local economies and must be reported as such.
He made the call at the closing session of a three-day training workshop for journalists on the theme: “Green Mining: Best Practices and Responsible Reporting.”
The workshop, organised by the GNA with support from the Association of China-Ghana Mining (ACGM), provided a platform for learning and sharing best practices and policies on green mining.
Mr Owusu emphasised that ethical journalism was key to shaping public discourse on mining and urged reporters to rely on facts, credible sources and community voices in their reportage.
“Journalists must be balanced and objective. We must project what is happening on the ground in mining communities and help the public understand mining as part of social and economic development,” he said.
Mr Michael Sandow Ali, Director of Mining at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), said environmental management in the mining sector was a shared responsibility requiring technological, environmental and social considerations.
He said sustainable mining depended on effective environmental management systems to minimise ecological impacts, including proper waste management, water pollution control and land rehabilitation.
Mr Ali underscored the need for open engagement with host communities, respect for their rights and fair compensation for land and resource use.
On climate change, he urged mining companies to adopt energy-efficient technologies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement mitigation strategies.
He advocated transparency and accountability in mining operations, revenue management and environmental and social reporting, and called for closer collaboration among journalists, regulators and mining companies to promote responsible mining.
Mrs Lydia Kukua Asamoah, a Senior Editor at GNA and participant in the training, said the workshop deepened her understanding of the mining sector, particularly the operations and ownership structure of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and on various mining regulations and environmental laws and policies.
She commended the networking and knowledge exchange between senior and young journalists and pledged to follow up on critical leads from the discussions to educate and inform the citizenry.
The workshop, attended by practitioners from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Television and Radio, Ghanaian Times, Graphic Communications Group, Business and Financial Times, Myjoyonline, United Television, Daily Guide, among others, from the Greater Accra, Western and Upper East Regions, ended with the adoption of a work plan for journalists and stakeholders and a call for sustained responsible reporting to enhance public understanding and support for environmentally sustainable mining practices in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah