By Issah Mohammed/ Jibril Abdul Mumuni, GNA
Accra, Aug. 18, GNA – The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has urged journalists to maintain independent, accurate and evidence-based reporting on the mining industry.
It said journalists should scrutinise mining companies, government and regulators while ensuring fair and balanced coverage.
“Our role is not to be an enemy of mining. Neither should we become a public relations department for the mining industry. We must remain independent,” Mr Albert Dwumfuor, President of the GJA, said at a national mining dialogue in Accra.
The event, presided by the Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, was organised by Asempa 94.7 FM and its flagship programme, Ekosiisen, in partnership with Semmis DS and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Held under the theme: “Mining, Local Content and the Catchment Compact: Rethinking the Social Licence to Operate,” discussions focused on how Ghana could maximise the economic and social value from the extraction of its mineral resources, without compromising the health and environmental wellbeing of present and future generations.
It was attended by government officials, traditional authorities, mining industry players, regulators and other stakeholders.
Mr Dwumfuor said the media had a responsibility to investigate illegal mining networks, examine mining companies’ obligations, scrutinise government policies and give affected communities a voice.
He said journalists should also report developments that were working, including mining companies that created jobs, supported communities and met their obligations.
“Fairness also requires us to report what is working,” he said, adding that government interventions that produced results and regulators who performed effectively also deserved to be reported.
Mr Dwumfuor said responsible mining journalism required journalists to “verify before publishing” and “investigate before accusing”, while giving all sides a fair opportunity to respond.
He cautioned against sensationalism, saying dramatic headlines might generate clicks but inaccurate reporting could damage reputations, distort public debate and undermine public confidence in the media.
“The media must inform, not inflame,” he said.
The GJA President said the Association would continue to promote specialised training for journalists covering mining, environmental issues, finance and regulation.
He said the GJA would also encourage stronger fact-checking, investigative reporting, responsible use of data and correction of errors, noting that the credibility of the media remained its greatest asset.
Mr Dwumfuor announced plans for the GJA to lead a team of veteran and experienced journalists on a nationwide tour of communities and sites affected by illegal mining.
He said the team would engage affected communities, miners, farmers, traditional leaders, regulators and other stakeholders to assess the situation on the ground and deepen public understanding of the illegal mining crisis.
The exercise would be independent of government and involve development partners, experts and other relevant stakeholders, he said.
Mr Dwumfuor, who said he came from Tepa, one of Ghana’s historic mining areas, said his personal experience of the benefits and environmental consequences of mining had shaped his commitment to responsible mining.
He said mining remained important to Ghana’s economy, generating foreign exchange, employment, taxes and royalties, but its economic contribution should not be considered in isolation from its social and environmental costs.
“Gold has economic value, but so does water. So does fertile land. So does a healthy environment,” he said.
Mr Dwumfuor called for a mining sector that generated economic value while respecting host communities and protecting the environment, saying the debate should focus not on whether Ghana should mine but on what kind of mining the country was prepared to accept.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Issah Mohammed/ Jibril Abdul Mumuni
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